Amateur Photographer – 13 July 2019

subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 13 July 2019 41

A

grasp of lighting
equipment brings
enormous benefits to
your photography. It
means you can lift your subject
under any conditions, or achieve
all manner of different styles.
Good lighting can elevate a photo
beyond the ordinary. It speaks of a
professionalism and competence
that separates the serious
photographer from the amateur

smartphone snapper, and it’s also a

great deal of fun.

With supplemental lighting, our

choices are huge. When we shoot

with natural light alone then

there’s usually only one exposure

that lets us correctly capture the

scene in front of us. But if we can

start to add in our own light – be it

with a speedlight, a studio head, a

lamp, or even a torch – then we

have freedom to create different

A single off-camera

speedlight directed

through a blind can create

striking, high-contrast

lighting for portraits

Testbench

Guiding

light

Lighting equipment needn’t be

daunting or complicated. It brings

limitless opportunities for wonderful

photos, says James Paterson

looks and bend the exposure to

our will. We could, for example,

subtly boost our subject by filling in

the shadows, or transform the look

by overpowering the ambient light.

However, light can be a

troublesome beast to master, and

even those who have successfully

used lighting equipment for years

often struggle to fully control

or even comprehend it. For the

beginner, talk of guide numbers,

light meters, modifiers and flash

duration can be daunting. ‘I prefer

to shoot exclusively with natural

light’ is a common phrase, and a

perfectly fine opinion. But there

are plenty who would admit that,

in part, the preference is because

they are uncomfortable with using

lighting equipment. With practice

and understanding of a few

fundamentals, there will be a

lightbulb moment when everything

suddenly clicks.

If, as we often hear, photography

is ‘painting with light’, then think of

lighting equipment as your artist’s

paintbox. Over the next few pages

we’ll explore the most common

types of photographic lighting –

from speedlights to portable flash,

studio lights and LEDs. Each has

its benefits and drawbacks, and

will be suited to different

shooting conditions.

ALL PICTURES © JAMES PATERSON