Nikon D3200 Digital Field Guide

The Importance of Light

There is nothing more important in photography than light—I cannot stress this enough. To take great photographs, you need to study the light and understand how it interacts with the scene. This means not only understanding how to place your subject, but also how to work with existing lighting conditions to make the best photograph possible. Many of the great photographers seem to do this intuitively, but with practice, you can learn how to see the light and work with it to produce stunning images.

For example, I was watching Amlak Tafari (the bass player for Steel Pulse) adjust his gear and noticed how the glow from his amplifier illuminated his face. By adjusting my shooting location slightly and waiting until his expression was perfect, I was able to capture the photo in Figure 5.1

5.1 The proximity of the light source to the subject’s face made it soft, and the direction of the light helped the composition. Exposure: ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/125 second.