David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T6/1300D Guide to Digital SLR Photography

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Working with Light

Successful photographers and artists have an intimate understanding of the importance of light in shaping an image. Rembrandt was a master of using light to create moods and reveal the character of his subjects. Artist Thomas Kinkade’s official tagline is “Painter of Light.” The late Dean Collins, co-founder of Finelight Studios, revolutionized how a whole generation of photographers learned and used lighting. Photo guru Ed Pierce has a popular seminar called “Captivated by the Light.” It’s impossible to underestimate how the use of light adds to—and how misuse can detract from—your photographs.

All forms of visual art use light to shape the finished product. Sculptors don’t have control over the light used to illuminate ...