Conventional wisdom
tells us to always keep the sun at our backs when taking a picture. This is a
pretty good rule to follow for most subjects – especially if you don't want
details lost under a heavy silhouette. However, always following conventional
wisdom will usually result in conventional-looking photographs. If your subject
is fairly close and you use proper lighting, it really doesn't matter where the
sun is. In fact, I often deliberately include the sun in many of my flower shots.
The photo above is a
cluster of daffodils I shot with the sun center stage. In order to bring out
the details in the flowers and the grass, I placed two flashes on tripods on
either side of the composition. A single flash will also work if a two-flash
setup is too much of an ambitious undertaking. Since a single flash tends to
create harsh shadows, a reflector can be used in conjunction with the flash to
help balance out the light.
These simple lighting
techniques will free you from always having to take the same old tired-looking
photos. So, don't be afraid to let the sun shine in.
Article Submitted by:
F.M. Kearney is a fine art nature photographer, specializing in
unique floral and landscape images. To see more of his work, please visit www.starlitecollection.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment