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 differentA single off-camera
speedlight directed
through a blind can create
striking, high-contrast
lighting for portraitsTestbench
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