Diffused Lighting in Photography

Diffused Lighting

Sometimes lighting from any direction is just too harsh. That is when you

want to soften the incoming light. This is really easy to do.  You just need

to take away some  of the contrast for a more  eye pleasing  photo.    The

bright sunlight at midday is  the worst kind of light for shooting photos.

Most of us wish away the rain and pray  for the beautiful sun on a day

planned for shooting pictures.. The light colors are washed out and

the contrasting shadows are  just way too dark.  If you are a patient

photographer, you can wait for the sun to go behind a cloud or if you subject

is small, movable and cooperative you can move them under the shade of a

tree or house or building and take the photo there. The light will be much

more natural here and you will in turn get a great photo. 

 If someone is not cooperative or its just not possible to move to get that great shot and there

is not a cloud in sight, you can make your own shade.  You can use an

umbrella or even drape a piece over something until you get the shade you

need.  There are many items you can use, you just have to get creative.  If

nothing seems to be working or going your way, you can always come back

in the morning or evening when the sun is lower the sky.  If you plan to take

your photos at 3-4pm in the day, be prepared for a lot of sunlight! Cloudy

days can present  us with many opportunities for great photographs.  In

fact, once you discover how easy it is to get those great photos, you’ll look

forward to a cloudy day as much, if not more, than a sunny day. Most

 photographers that work in a studio usually have quite a few few tools to

get  the desired effect they need to soften and  redistribute light.  The Soft

box which provides soft, even lighting by using a diffuser in front of the

light. When your taking outdoor photos, the cloud cover can diffuse the light

of the sun alot like a photographer’s soft-box, producing a soft even light

that will provide you with softer contrasts. High contrast can be amazingly

dramatic,  but the softer contrast allows for more detail in both the light and

the dark areas of your photograph. The softer light is also more flattering for

portraits or candid shots of people.  Grandma will appreciate this.  On your

first few cloudy day adventures, consider taking your digital camera. Even

though there are  many differences in the  cameras, what you learn about

how the lighting changes will help you be more prepared in the different

environments you may want to shoot in. Will be equally useful with your film

camera. What I love about having a digital camera  is that I can feel free to

experiment without feeling like I am breaking the bank every time I shoot a

photo and it doesn't turn out. Diffused lighting is wonderful for taking

pictures of the wildlife hiding in the shadows by your house. Its also

wonderful for shooting close ups of  flowers and people. Diffused lighting is

not as bright as direct light, indoors or out, and you will need to

compensate with a slower shutter speed.