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Mastering Shadows and Light in Photography

The document discusses how photographers use light and shadows. It notes that shadows and areas of pure light can be as visually important as the main subjects in a photo. Shadows can provide context about objects outside the frame or reveal additional information. Light can define textures, structures, details and create focal points that draw attention. Backlighting can turn subjects into dramatic silhouettes. The document instructs photographers to use their light meters to create silhouettes and assigns photographers to take two photos emphasizing interesting shadows or light without using a flash.

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Jazmin Gomez
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279 views12 pages

Mastering Shadows and Light in Photography

The document discusses how photographers use light and shadows. It notes that shadows and areas of pure light can be as visually important as the main subjects in a photo. Shadows can provide context about objects outside the frame or reveal additional information. Light can define textures, structures, details and create focal points that draw attention. Backlighting can turn subjects into dramatic silhouettes. The document instructs photographers to use their light meters to create silhouettes and assigns photographers to take two photos emphasizing interesting shadows or light without using a flash.

Uploaded by

Jazmin Gomez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Shadows and Light

How photographers see the world


Make a list of
things in this
room

You probably didn’t include shadows.


Shadows can
have
VISUAL
WEIGHT
Shadows can be as
important or even
more important than
anything else in the
photo.
Light can also
have VISUAL
WEIGHT

Just like shadows,


areas of pure light can
be just as important
as anything else in
the photograph
Shadows can
can reference
objects outside
of the frame

or
they can give
us more
information
Light can show
us TEXTURE

Light can define


the edges,
folds,
and textures
of objects.
Light can
define
STRUCTURE

Light can define


the edges,
folds,
and textures
of objects.
Light can show
DETAILS

What does light tell


us about what
happened to this
street?
Light can
create a FOCAL
POINT

Light can draw


attention to a certain
part of the
composition.
BACKLIGHT
images can be
dramatic

Sources of light
behind objects
can turn them
into silhouettes.
Use your LIGHT
METER to
create a
silhouette
Point your camera at the light source behind
your subject, and press the shutter button
down halfway. Then focus and recompose if
you want before you press the shutter button
all the way down. (We will practice later)
Your Assignment
Take two photos where light or shadows are the most important thing.

Make sure the shadows are of something with an interesting shape. Avoid a lumpy or
shapeless shadow. Do not use a flash for this assignment. The best light source to use is
the sun.

I want to look at your photos and think to myself “Wow, that's a photo about shadows
and light!”, not “that's a photo with a small shadow in the corner that is barely
noticeable.”

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