2. Seeing the Light

3. Light Photography Photo = Light Graphis = Write Photographer = “Light-writer”

4. Light Creates mood Enhances or describes surfaces Creates dimension See the Light!

5. Light Source Direction Quality

6. Light Sources Natural light Sun Ambient or available light Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor

7. Light Sources Natural light Sun Ambient or available light Sun Ansel Adams

8. Light Sources Natural light Sun Ambient or available light Sun Cindy Sherman

9. Light Sources Natural light Sun Ambient or available light Sam Abell Ambient or available light

10. Light Sources Natural light Sun Ambient or available light Richard Avedon Ambient or available light

11. Light Sources Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor Flash Diane Arbus

12. Light Sources Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor Flash David Bailey

13. Light Sources Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor Strobes Irving Penn

14. Light Sources Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor Strobes Edward Steichen

15. Light Sources Artificial light Flash Strobes Incandescent Neon Mercury Vapor Strobes Max Waldman

16. Light Source Direction Quality

17. Light Direction of Light From the point of view of the camera Look at the Shadows Darkest side faces away from the light Brightest side faces the light source

18. Direction of Light Axis Backlight Rim/Edge Silhouette Contour A B C

19. Axis Light Comes at the front of the scene from the direction of the camera Sources: flash, or light behind camera Tends to flatten subject Not very flattering

20. Harry Callahan Axis Light Comes at the front of the scene from the direction of the camera

21. Paul Strand Axis Light Comes at the front of the scene from the direction of the camera

22. Diane Arbus Axis Light Comes at the front of the scene from the direction of the camera

23. Walker Evans Axis Light Comes at the front of the scene from the direction of the camera

24. Direction of Light Axis Backlight Rim/Edge Silhouette Contour A B C

25. Backlight Rim or Edge Light Lands on back edge of the subject Edge separates subject from the background Comes from behind subject, toward the camera Silhouette Doesn’t land on subject Subject is black and two-dimensional

26. W. Eugene Smith Comes from behind the subject Light lands on the edge of the subject Backlight -- RIM or EDGE

27. Adam Jahiel Comes from behind the subject Light lands on the edge of the subject Backlight -- RIM or EDGE

28. Neil Leifer Backlight -- RIM or EDGE Comes from behind the subject Light lands on the edge of the subject

29. Imogen Cunningham Backlight -- RIM or EDGE Comes from behind the subject Light lands on the edge of the subject

30. Backlight Rim or Edge Light Lands on back edge of the subject Edge separates subject from the background Comes from behind subject, toward the camera Silhouette Doesn’t land on subject Subject is black and two-dimensional

31. Michael Kenna Backlight -- SILHOUETTE Comes from behind the subject Light DOES NOT land on the edge of the subject

32. Michael Kenna Comes from behind the subject Light DOES NOT land on the edge of the subject Backlight -- SILHOUETTE

33. James Nachtwey Comes from behind the subject Light DOES NOT land on the edge of the subject Backlight -- SILHOUETTE

34. Henri Cartier-Bresson Comes from behind the subject Light DOES NOT land on the edge of the subject Backlight -- SILHOUETTE

35. Direction of Light Axis Backlight Rim/Edge Silhouette Contour A B C

36. Contour Light Comes across the side of the scene from the left or right of the camera Surface texture is more noticeable Makes objects more three-dimensional Adds drama

37. Neil Leifer Contour Light Comes from the left or right side of the camera

38. Neil Leifer Contour Light Comes from the left or right side of the camera

39. David Bailey Contour Light Comes from the left or right side of the camera

40. Clarence John Laughlin Contour Light Comes from the left or right side of the camera

41. Susan Walsh Contour Light Comes from the left or right side of the camera

42. Light Source Direction Quality

43. Make the photograph interesting Watch for Light Quality Harsh or Strong Diffuse or Soft Directional Diffuse Harsh

44. Harry Callahan Harsh or Strong Light Very sharp, crisp edges to the shadow & light areas Extremely contrasty

45. Edward Weston Harsh or Strong Light Very sharp, crisp edges to the shadow & light areas Extremely contrasty

46. Gordon Parks Harsh or Strong Light Very sharp, crisp edges to the shadow & light areas Extremely contrasty

47. Watch for Light Quality Harsh or Strong Diffuse or Soft Directional Diffuse Make the photograph interesting Diffuse

48. Edward Weston Diffuse or Soft Light No shadows Light has no direction Can’t tell light source

49. Paul Strand Diffuse or Soft Light No shadows Light has no direction Can’t tell light source

50. Watch for Light Quality Harsh or Strong Diffuse or Soft Directional Diffuse Make the photograph interesting Directional Diffuse

51. Steve McCurry Directional Diffuse Light Very soft edges to shadows Extremely flattering

52. Elliott Erwitt Directional Diffuse Light Very soft edges to shadows Extremely flattering

53. Light Creates mood Enhances or describes surfaces Creates dimension See the Light!

54. Seeing the Light