The following is a direct copy and has been Pasted in for future reference from the Art of Photography coursework PDF Doc. (pasted in Maroon)
Minimum 4 images
This is an exercise to demonstrate some of the advantages of shooting when the sun is low. Obviously, there is no sudden moment in the day when the sunlight switches between low and high but, as a guide, the sun is low within about two hours of sunrise and sunset, except in winter when it stays low for much of the day. In summer, this may not be a convenient time to go out shooting, but the results from getting up really early can be very rewarding.
You can choose any subjects for this project, but they must be in sunlight. Take as many pictures as possible, but aim to produce four as a final result, as follows:
Frontal Lighting
With the sun behind the camera, striking the subject fully. The lighting effect should appear intense, and any shiny parts of the subject will reflect the sun. You will probably have to be careful to avoid including in the picture shadows thrown by you and the camera
Side Lighting
With the sun to the left or right. More or less half of the subject will be lit, half in shadow. You should be aware that the shaded parts of the scene will affect the exposure reading; in other words, beware of overexposure
Back Lighting
Shoot towards the light. Depending on whether the sun is in view or hidden behind the subject, the exposure may be difficult to predict, so bracket the exposures as described in Project: The intensity of light. If the sun is not so low and is very bright, don’t look directly at it – even through a viewfinder – as this can damage your eyes
Edge Lighting
This is a special condition for shooting towards the sun, in which the sun is outside the viewfinder frame and the edge of the subject is lit. This is not a common type of lighting and you may have to work hard to find it. If you choose a small or movable subject, you could move it into position against a shaded backdrop because a dark background shows up rim lighting more clearly. If in doubt, bracket your exposures. (Edge lighting and rim lighting are not the same thing. Rim lighting is an effect created where back lighting creates a rim of light around the subject, e.g. a ‘halo’ effect around a person’s head, separating the subject from its surroundings).
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Equipment
Nikon D4
24/70 f2.8 lens
Tripod
Method & Approach
Please see pictures and captions below.
Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there might be a quality reduction when enlarging.
1. Frontal Lighting
Picture 1 – The Leaning tower of Pisa (Province of Pisa).
Construction of the tower started in 1173 and was finally finished in 1319. In defiance against gravity the tower finally underwent an extensive ten year structural strengthening exercise in 1990, to keep the tower from eventually toppling. The tower of Pisa has been leaning for approximately 840 years.
Camera Details
Speed 1/350th sec
Aperture f8.0
ISO 200
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 42mm
Comments – This picture was taken during the late afternoon with the sun directly behind me, as we can see there is a difference of softening in the sky colour and the shadows derived from the people are starting to lengthen.
2. Side Lighting
Picture 2 – A picture of my son
Camera Details
Speed 1/60th sec
Aperture f8.0
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – This picture was taken at 19:00 (early evening time). We can see with his facial positioning that the sunlight has cast a shadow across half his face. This was tricky getting a good balance of exposure. The warmth created in this shot by not using a fill flash has really emphasised his skin and hair colour.
3._Back Lighting
Picture 3 – A sunset just outside the city of Calbayog, Philippines
Camera Details
Speed 1/250th sec
Aperture f8.0
ISO 200
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – This picture was taken at 17:35 (early evening time). I took this picture whilst on holiday recently in the Philippines. I had been trying to capture a good sunset for a couple of days but the weather wasn’t on my side until this particular evening. I really like the island silhouette in the distance against the vibrant orange backdrop.
Picture 4 – A sunset just outside the city of Calbayog, Philippines
Camera Details
Speed 5 seconds
Aperture f22.0
ISO 50
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – This picture was taken at 17:55 (early evening time). This image is a follow on from the picture above some 20 minutes later. For this picture I put the camera on a tripod and also used an N.D. 0.6 filter. What I like in this photo is the way that the suns rays fan out into the sky like a huge halo behind the island and clouds, I also couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture the moon.
4. Edge Lighting
Picture 5 – A local park bench
Camera Details
Speed 1/1500th sec
Aperture f2.8
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – This picture was taken at 16:15 (early morning time). I had never heard of “Edge Lighting” until reading the coursework, although I had heard of “Rim Lighting” …. Which I use often when taking portraits. Getting back to edge lighting …. I really like this effect in the way it cuts through and used with textures and material grains it really works. Originally I cropped this image and took out the sky but in doing so the picture became flat, the image definitely works best when we see the light which is creating the effect.
What have I learnt from this exercise
I have learnt to apply more than just fill flash or wait for the crowd to disperse for that all important shot. In this exercise I have learnt that t really does pay to do the hard work and either get up early or revisit the location during a later part of the day (if permitting). With relevance to the previous exercises it also pays to know the position of the sun beforehand.
Thoughts and Reflection
I have a new understanding and respect for certain types of lighting especially side and edge lighting. Take Picture 2 from this exercise, in situations like this I would nearly always use a fill flash …. but this would have totally ruined the effect …. it would have also taken away the warmth and any indication towards the time of day. In relevance of edge lighting as the coursework suggests, you will have to look hard and perhaps get up early to find it but when it comes it’s a really powerful effect that throws the subject at the viewer in a totally different way. These lighting techniques are a fantastic arsenal of conditions that promote the photographer from amongst the ordinary and introduce different conditions that the viewer is used to.
stingray493 