How to Use Sunlight in Photography

The most important aspect when taking a photograph is light. Without adequate light, you will not be able to properly expose your negative. However, you do not need an expensive, fancy studio set-up to take great photos. Some of the best photographs are taken outdoors, using only sunlight as the light source. Taking a beautiful outdoor photograph is just a matter of placing your subjects in the correct location in relationship to the direction of the light, and having a bit of good timing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your time. You will get very different results depending on the time of day you are taking your photographs. Of course, some of the best photographs are on-the-fly, happen as they may, but if you take photographs in the morning or late afternoon, rather in the middle of the day, you may obtain better results. When the sun is directly overhead, it will cast shadows on a person’s face, leaving their eyes in shadow, and causing an unattractive shadow from the nose.

2. Position your subjects in relationship to the direction of the light. You can achieve pleasing results with side, back or frontal lighting from the sun. Each position will yield different effects. If the sun is high in the sky, try to position your subject so the light is coming from behind them, rather than directly over-head. This will eliminate shadows. Side lighting will help give an even tone to both the background and subject matter. Frontal light will work best in a low-light, early-morning or late afternoon situation.

3. Meter your exposure. “Metering” is a process that can be very helpful in situations where you do not know the correct exposure to use. It is when you take a photograph with one stop below and one stop above the exposure reading on your light meter. For example, say your light meter is telling you the correct exposure is F 8 and 1/125 of a second. To “meter” this exposure, you would take 3 photographs total, one at F 16, one at F 8 and one at F 4. This will give you three exposures of the same situation, one of which will likely have the correct exposure for your effect. Note that some cameras come with F-stop adjustments in half-steps as well.

4. Adjust after the fact. If all else fails, simple exposure adjustments in Photoshop are always a possibility. To make adjusts, scan your photograph and save it. Go into to Photoshop, and choose the Image menu at the top of your workspace, and then “Adjustments” and then “Brightness/Contrast.” A pop-up window will open with a slider for both Brightness and Contrast. Make sure the “Preview” box is checked so you can see the adjustments you are making. When finished, click "OK," and save your work.

[Elizabethknows]

on 11/19/2008 I agree totally most of my best pictures come from outside during a sunny day.

[Hode]

on 11/19/2008 Good information.Thanks.

[mosscampion]

on 11/19/2008 Indeed light is the key to photography. Great tips! I always try to shoot in early morning or early evening to get better shadows and warmer light.