5 photography myths about light

Stéphanie de Geus
Aug 22, 2017 · 4 min read
Photo copyright Stéphanie de Geus

Light is the very core of photography and without it, there is no photo. That doesn’t make light easy to work with. It comes in all shapes and sizes and when working with natural light it usually has a mind of its own.

Amongst beginner photographers, there are a few myths when it comes to light as they try to master it. When I started I struggled with light the most: overlit, underlit, unexpected sun flares, harsh shadows. You name it and I’ve done it. While I’m all for making your own mistakes, there are a few light myths I want to debunk for you.

1. The more the better

Since photography is so revolved around light, it’s easy to think that. I get it. But it’s the absence of light that creates interesting images. Look for interesting rays of light, interesting shapes in shadows. Don’t be afraid to paint with light, leaves things in the dark. While bright sunny days do have their place in some shots, you will find that more often than not they will get in the way.

Apart from the weird expression that sun is just not flattering
A flattering, indirect light that is casting all sorts of soft light directly onto the subject

2. You can only take photos when the sun is out

Actually, no. To be honest I dislike working with harsh direct sunlight. (I kinda already hinted at that earlier) It casts harsh shadows and it will make people squint — not something you want to do to your people. (Unflattering, trust me, been there and done that). Take shots when the sun is about to go down, shoot through the blinds, use candles to light a room — anything goes here. And while there are basic rule people life by, to be honest, there really are no rules when it comes to creative shots. So experiment away!

3. Several light sources are hard to work with

They can be if they have a different warmth. But there is a simple solution if it’s causing strange colour casts: black & white. Jup. It’s that easy! Cheating? I don’t think so. You will still have to work to get the exposure right. But once you do, multiple light sources can create a really stunning light pallet on your subject.

Several light sources, all with a different warmth and hue.
Several light sources turned black & white

4. You can’t take photos inside without a flash

Honest truth: I hate the flash and never use it. Even indoors. I can’t even remember the last time I used a flash. The only thing is that you have to be even more mindful of where the light is coming from. Make sure someone is facing a window, or that you use the natural light to create silhouettes. Whatever you do, look at the light that you have and decide how you want to use it.

5. You have to shoot with your back to the light

We can be long and short about this. No. Especially during golden hour I love shooting directly into the sun. It creates stunning sun flares, and magical silhouettes. When it comes to light the best things to do is just to experiment. If you’re looking for that one specific image there is no right or wrong. If it works with the image you have in mind, then go for it. The only thing you really want to do is be mindful of where you place your light source.

If you let people look directly into the sun it will create harsh shadows on their face
Shot directly into the light

Lens flares are bad

One word: nope. Yes, they can be unwanted when you’re not expecting them, but when you plan for them: instant magic.

Lens flares usually happen when you’re shooting in direct sunlight or have the sun coming in from the side. It can create bright spots on your photo, a haze, or even colourful and bright streaks of light. When you’re not counting on it, it can create an undesirable effect and make your photo look kinda, well, meh. If however, you do plan on it and play around with it, it can lift you photos to the next level. And golden hour happens to be this magical time where lens flares are in abundance.

Beautiful lens flare

Life Sparks

Finding the sparks that make life fun

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Stéphanie de Geus

Written by

Storyteller & blogger. Inspires with stories. Lover of books, vintage cameras, climbing and tea addict. Moving towards living sustainably. Vegan since 2014.

Life Sparks

Finding the sparks that make life fun

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