Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Maybe why certain experts are referred to as Explorers of Light and not Explorers of Sharpness.... mt exposure triangle consists of Shutter Speed, Aperture and Light. ISO is an amplification of a sensor's output. I think too many people might so this point.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

I do agree that photos that tell a story are intrinsically more interesting than still life, but there is also an optimal light to capture the moment with, and if you can be at that optimal vantage point to capture that moment in the light that reveals the maximum of volume and texture of your subject, then you have the best of all photo worlds! Given, there are moments you must take what you can get!

tallshooter

Hi Cat,
Just thought it funny that the settings and flash removed the day whilst highlighting the subject.
Joe

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Or it could be that we more experienced photographers are simply trying to help the inexperienced ones that also use this site. I suppose we could open another forum called the "Beautiful Hedge Hog" and make it for professionals only but what fun is that. If a subject like this can create so much angst then I can just imagine the mayhem that would ensue on a BHH site.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

And directionality, and color, and diffusion, and, and, and . . .

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Good point - sometimes you have to make the light happen. It's how you accomplish it that counts.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

No problem - just your choice of words, I guess. I was simply letting you know my own reaction. We're not gonna fall out over it !

Happy weekend !

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

That's like saying what came first the chicken or the egg. In this case there is no contrast without light. Master the light and contrast will follow.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Agree!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

With a subject as potentially unwieldy and diverse as this, what we're all really hoping for is somebody to provide a good condensation of the subject so that we can at least get the beginnings of a manageable learning curve. For example, RichardTaylor's thread (http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-512965-1.html) seems like a good starting point which I would condense into the following key factors:-

Brightness (abundance or lack of light), contrast (harsh/soft), colour (mainly about - but not limited to - the colour of the ambient light), direction of the light (especially with regard to the intended subject/s). To that I would add distribution of light within the frame. Any of these subjects (especially colour) could obviously be taken in all sorts of directions, but it would be a good idea to focus on what gives light that special something.

Has this been done already? Or can somebody get us started on a nice, user-friendly learning curve?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Subjects tend to be over simplified here.

Light is important

Perspective is important

"The Moment" is important

DoF is important

Motion is important

Execution {level, focus, exposure, etc} is important

etc

Back in the film era, when I was shooting Kodachrome and had to get it right the first time, my wife became accustomed to a "five minute photo stop" stretching out to thirty minutes or more as I explored every angle if 'the moment' wasn't an issue, or perhaps waiting for the moment. Those habits continue to serve me well.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

I think it is much easier to discuss tools. Which is better, cheaper, sharper, lighter, smaller, faster, etc. All these things are easily measured, simpler, and easier to describe. But they do not make a photograph, or a photographer. I can hand you a scalpel a bunch of clamps and scissors and suture packs, but you will not be a surgeon nor will you be able to perform a successful operation, because that demands judgement, a knowledge of how to use ALL the functions of your tools, and how to apply them to this particular patient. This is why we are more comfortable talking about gear and not comfortable with the less concrete subject of the process of using the gear and evaluating all the factors that actually constitute the image. Foremost of these factors is the light, it's direction and it's effect on the subject. It will make the difference between a flat featureless image and one with a 3 dimensional quality and a texture you can "feel". How to "see" this when you approach the subject, how to use it, expose for it, all involve experience and judgment and are what the other, non tech, side of photography is all about.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Yes and all of the aspects of technique you mentioned, interact with the light. Ultimately it is that particular arrangement of the light you chose to collect with your lens that will be your image.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Yet, knowledge of photons doesn't do much to make one a better photographer. Once you get it down to that generality, you aren't saying much of anything. You're saying everything and nothing.

Bill_de Loc: US

It's been done many times over. There are more and better sources than UHH.

https://www.google.com/search?q=limportance+of+ight+in+photography&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADFA_enUS433&gws_rd=ssl

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