As a general rule, the more diffused your light source is, the better. Harsh light creates very unflattering shadows. What this means for outdoor photography is that you need to shoot in the few hours that the sun is closest to the horizon (after sunrise or before sunset), or you need to find open shade. Cloudy days are great for portraits, but at noon you can still get shadows even on cloudy days. So, when you’re shooting outdoors, make sure your subject’s face is evenly lit–look especially at the eyes.

Examples: This lighting is nice and diffused. The sun was low to the ground, and we were in the shadow of some buildings.

This lighting is pretty harsh, as my sister and I were taking a day trip to the coast with my niece, and it was the middle of the day. Not the time I would plan a “photo shoot,” but I made do and turned my flash on to try and fill in some of the shadows. But you can still see those ugly shadows, especially around the eyes.

Assignment: Go out and take some pictures this week! Take some bad ones in direct sunlight on purpose, then compare them to some that you take in the shade of a tree or a building, or some about an hour or two before sunset. Then, upload them to my facebook page to share what you saw and learned.

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Tags: Photo Tips, Photo Tips--Light