Lighting How To

A unique way to create complex geometric, multicolored designs is to attach tiny Christmas tree lights to a bicycle wheel and spin it in a dark room or outside at night. I found 7 ft of Christmas lights powered by 3 AA batteries online for about $12, and that was just enough to cover the entire circumference of the front wheel of my son’s medium sized bike. I took the wheel off the bike with a simple crescent wrench and used black electrician’s tape to affix the lights and the wires onto the rim, figure A.

One question I’m frequently asked is, “Are you a natural-light photographer or do you use flash?” All too often that query stems from a popular misconception that using supplemental light is too difficult or confusing for mere mortals. As you’ll see in the basic tutorial below, nothing could be further from the truth.

Nighttime photography can be a real challenge for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is arriving at a correct exposure. Other problems include specular highlights, color casts caused by streets lamps of varying temperature, and important subjects lurking in the shadows.

Today’s quick tutorial is a throwback to the days before electronic cameras, without autofocus, built-in meters, and other modern conveniences. The Sunny 16 method for determining proper exposure was one of the easiest “rules” back then, and it can bail you out of a jam today when using a full-featured camera.

Commercial photographer Lou Freeman specializes in fashion/glamour work and in the 4-minute video below she shows you how to make great outdoor portraits in direct sunlight.

Travel and landscape photographers typically reach for a wide-angle lens when confronted with a compelling landscape. But choosing a telephoto provides an opportunity to create images that stand out from the rest—especially in iconic locations that have been photographed time and time again.

In a never-ending search for the "perfect light," many photographers ignore the beauty and simplicity of shooting in open shade. Not only does this method provide soft, even illumination, but this straightforward technique avoids the encumbrance of costly and ungainly lighting gear and accessories.