Previously, we discussed the quality of light.  While describing light as either hard or soft is a good place to start, the quality of light is only one of light’s many characteristics.  Another aspect of light is the direction light moves across the subject.  In photography, there are three primary angles of light: front light, side light, and back light.  Lets take a look at each one.

(Elephant in front light)

Front light occurs when light passes from the photographer to the subject.  To record front light, a photographer should position himself so that his shadow points directly towards the subject.  The result is a clearly lit subject, with shadows falling away from the photographer.  Front light is very popular among bird photographers and can be used to create some stunning images.  The limitation is that by pushing all of the shadows behind the subject, front lighting runs the risk of making subjects look flat.  Photography is a two dimensional art-form that depicts three dimensional subjects.  Shadows are a key part of this process because shadows help to create a sense of depth.  Remember, light illuminates, shadow defines.

(Lioness in side light)

Side light, in contrast, provides a wealth of shadows to an image.  As the name implies, side light occurs when the light comes from either the right or left of the subject.  The result is an image that contains both shadows and highlights and a strong feeling of depth.  Go through and look at the work of famous painters, and sidelight is what you will find.  It is the primary lighting angle used by both portrait and landscape photographers.  In the wildlife realm, side light brings out the texture of a mammal’s fur and creates a sense of drama that makes the scene more compelling.  On the downside, side light can increase the contrast levels of an image beyond the camera’s ability to record.

(Zebra in back light)

Back light is the reverse of front light.  Where front light travels from the photographer to the subject, back light travels from behind the subject towards the photographer.  Back light can create a beautiful glow around the edge of the subject (called rim light) and adds drama to the scene.  Back light also adds the challenge of dealing with shadows on the subject.  With the light being behind the subject, the side of the subject facing the camera is heavily shadowed.  If the shadows are two dark, the animal’s beauty will be hidden.

The angle of light is a key part of the photographer’s toolbox.  Photography is about light, and learning to see light and playing with it will provide variety and visual impact to your images.