Quality of Light

Photographic Craftsmanship explores the three key elements that comprise light, the most fundamental ingredient in any photograph. The balance of these three elements defines the Quality of Light.

Brightness

This seemingly benign characteristic of light is quite complex, and when we use the term brightness, it’s important to distinguish exactly what we are talking about. In class you’ll learn how to measure light never to miss an exposure. We’ll also discuss what happens to the light on its way to your subject and during the all-important return trip to your computer.

When you understand light, you’ll know how to control your exposure, highlight brightness, and shadows.

Color

Learn to use color to your advantage. Correcting for White Balance is only the first step. Color can also be a powerful creative tool. Set your work apart from the pack by crafting stunning colors in your images.

Direction

The direction of light is just that, the direction from which the light falls upon your subject. It seems like a straightforward concept, but there’s a little more to it than just the orientation of the light. Direction includes the size of the light source, which defines the amount of contrast. It also helps define the shape and texture of our subject, a powerful ingredient in setting the mood.

Learn to manage all of these elements of the Quality of Light.