Digital Photography Lighting Tips

Digital photography free tutorials!

Photography lighting plays such an important role in getting the shots you desire, but can be confusing when one feels intimidated by the technology of the ever changing digital world. Start with your Camera's Settings for a good base line, and now let's simplify by using an easier metaphor the human eye:

The whole in the center of the iris (works like you camera's shutter) that changes size in response to changes in lighting. Your pupil (aperture) gets larger in dim lighting conditions and smaller in brighter lighting conditions in order to give your brain a picture it can see.

Apertures range from 1.4 to 32; 1.4 is the smallest f-number or f-stop(larger aperture/opening=more light), and 32 is the largest f-number or f-stop(smaller aperture/opening=less light). So, when your shooting conditions are in dim or low light you will need to open your aperture (think pupil) to allow more light in. In bright sunlight you will need to close your aperture (think pupil) or you will end up with a shot that is WAY TOO BRIGHT or over-exposed. The human eye is constantly adjusting open or close to give your brain the proper exposure of an image.

Are you on our mailing list for online digital photography classes?

Now, let's see what happens to our photography lighting when we add the lens. The lens is the part of the eye that provides focusing power. The lens is able to change shape allowing the eye to focus at different distances. So, depending on the size and shape of your lens you will alter the way you see your subjects:

The best place to buy lights The Standard Lens: Has a focal length between 45-55 The standard or normal lens provide scenes very much as we see them (20/20 vision allows one to see near and far). The Wide Angle Lens: Has a focal length shorter than 45. Therefore, covers more of a scene or a wider area, and is essential for photographing large groups. Think of this as near-sighted (can see closer but not far away). The Telephoto Lens: Has a focal length longer than 55. This brings your subject closer, or far-sighted (can see far away but not close). So, what did the lens do to our light? The wide angle lens just allowed more light in...the aperture just got bigger, but the telephoto lens just shut our aperture down (think about how far away your light is when you are standing in a tunnel). You might also be interested in finding out how to Make Money With Digital Photography Enjoy our Photography Lighting Tips and return to our Home Page for more Witty Production!