The Direction of the Light

The direction from which the light is coming is a big consideration for any photograph, but especially with close-up photography. Not only does it impact how the subject appears in the photograph, but it directs me as to where I need to position myself and the camera. It’s not enough to look at a potential subject, make a photograph, and walk away on the hunt for the next image. Instead, I have to think about where the light is coming from and, thus, where I need to place the camera to make the most effective photograph possible.

When I saw this beachgoer rinsing the saltwater off his body, the sun was behind me and it produced an okay photograph. I thought there might be something much more interesting if I moved ...

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