Light is not constant.  Not only does the quality of light and the angle of light change, but so does its color.  As the day progresses, the predominant color of light shifts.  In the early hours of pre-dawn, the world is covered in a veil of blue.  Photographing before the sun breaks the horizon produces a blue tint in our images.  As the day progresses, the light shifts.  Once the sun breaks the horizon, the world is flooded with the golden colors of sunrise.  This light provides a warmth that is radically different then the coolness of pre-dawn.  As the sun moves across the sky, the light looses its golden hue and becomes the “white” light we associate with daylight.  Once the sun reaches it zenith, the process reverses itself.

As photographers, we can use these color shifts in a number of ways.

• One fundamental use of color is how it alters the appearance of a subject.  If we photograph the same subject under different light we will get different results.  A lion’s fur does not look the same during sunrise as it does at noon.  By returning to photograph the same subjects under different lighting conditions, it becomes possible to create radically different images.  Try returning to the same subjects and photographic them in every possible lighting condition.
• Color has a powerful impact on our moods, which in turn impacts how we interpret images.  Blue provides a sense of calmness.  Red has energy and is associated with violence.  Green is the color of nature and contains a sense of vibrancy.  Deliberately including specific colors in an image gives you an opportunity to push the viewer’s emotions in a specific direction.
• People tend to find some colors more pleasing then others.  The golden rays of sunrise and sunset produce some of the strongest images, in part because most people prefer warm tones over cooler tones.
• While colors can be used to compliment the subject, don’t ignore their ability to clash with a viewer’s expectations.  Depicting a clearcut forest in the golden rays of sunset would be one example of how the beauty of color could be used to contrast against the rawness of the situation in such a way as to make the viewer do a double take.

Color is a powerful creative tool and we often overlook it in our daily lives.  As photographers, we spend a great deal of time looking at the world around us, and it is important that we take the time to consider how the color of light impacts that scene.

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.