The Five
Characteristics
of Light
PhotograPhy Begins with
Looking at Light
Allow yourself to become obsessed with light. This is the best advice that
I can give any photographer. Many shooters are more concerned with
learning buttons, dials, and software than with learning to truly see
light. Yet, if you become a connoisseur of light, you’ll see opportunities
for great shots that you did not see before. You’ll also recognize when
there’s no pizzazz to the light and, most likely, you will not make so
many disappointing images.Photography is “writing with light.” So, let’s build our conversation
about lighting on five fundamental characteristics of light: Direction,
Intensity, Color, Contrast, and Hardness.1