Creative Light Manipulation

As photographers, we use light and shadow to tell our stories. Often those components are professionally managed to enhance, and not detract, from our subjects. But sometimes those components ARE part of our story in and of themselves. Let’s look at some creative light manipulation of natural light and replicated off-camera flash light as examples.

Backlight:

Backlight is a very familiar term in our world. When you hear it, you may immediately conjure up images of rich, golden sunsets with rim light framing your subject’s hair. You might also be thinking of using backlight as a way to create a dramatic silhouette to add anonymity to your story, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

Or you might be using your off-camera flash as backlight for a more powerful source to wrap around the features of your subject. This gives them a hint of introduction to your viewers or even to dramatically lights up their environment enhancing your storyline.

In these examples, backlight is not merely present and managed, but embraced as a strong supporting secondary subject.

Let’s look at light INSIDE something else.  This is a bit more of a creative study / approach to light whether or not you are using a flash or light found in your environment.  Here is an example of where I am using the light found inside my children’s toys to light up their faces. However, I would argue that the light itself might be the main subject with my children merely there to support it and enhance the storyline.

This is a technique that I have done on purpose many times with my off-camera flash. I have put it inside closets, boxes, chests, snow globes, fridges, and ovens to help tell a more creative story.

Looking for new sources of light and shadow play can be just the thing to help bust yourself out of a creative rut, especially during the drearier months while we wait expectantly for spring and sunshine to return.

Sidelight:

Let’s talk about the often boring and overlooked use of light – flattering, unassuming – from the side. This is a go-to use of light in our photography repertoire whether we are shooting documentary, lifestyle, or portrait.

We often use light in this way to minimize unwanted and harsh shadows.  But what if…. what if we embraced those shadows as part of the storyline?

Let’s wrap up by talking about two more types of light and a more creative application of them. Bokeh. What do you picture when you hear that word? Are you picturing a dreamy portrait with lovely golden bokeh framing them in the background?  I challenge you to think of bokeh as a contending subject this winter!  Whether you use natural light, like a candle, or flash to illuminate an object, how can you add a little magic by carving out a place of intentionality for your bokeh?  Bonus if you haven’t put your Christmas lights away yet and can use them like I did in these images:

Last, but not least, how often do we overlook long exposure photography? Yes, this can be a fun technique for the more “artsy” shooters among us.  Who doesn’t love a good motion blur image combined with light trails, and how fun is it to capture the night sky over the course of a couple hours:

However, long exposure photography doesn’t just need to exist for the sake of being fancy all by itself. You can use it to capture memories such as fireworks lighting up the night sky or use it combined with flash to freeze motion and draw attention to your posed subjects in an eye-stopping way.

Take your creativity to the next level! Check out Elodie Meyer’s brand new mini course “Creative Light and Shadows”. Also, Off-Camera Flash 201 – Creating Your Own Magic, which is open for registration!