Light! Week Four

This week we examined how light affects photography. We began by looking at painters such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Vermeer and the way they used light for a number of effects: to give their work depth and dimension, to bring out color and texture, for accentuate drama, to indicate important subjects or aspects of paintings, and for simple aesthetic value. We looked at a number of photographers beginning with David Alan Harvey, Steve McCurry, W. Eugene Smith, and Alex Webb.

In our discussion of light we looked at the results of different types of daylight such as "golden time," the first two and last two ours of lighting when the sunlight is directional bringing out colors and textures of subjects which is an optimal time to photograph. We looked at the harsh effect of midday afternoon sun which can bring hard shadows. We also saw the soft diffused look of light on a cloudy or overcast days and how it can be used for a pleasing effect in portraiture.

Our focus was mainly on natural light, that is available light from the sun as opposed to unnatural indoor lights from lightbulbs which can give different effects such as cold green or blue tint for fluorescents or a warm golden color from tungsten.

We also talked about the use of flash and looked at a number of results of "direct flash" with examples of work from Weegee, Andy Warhol, and the familiar overpowering flash photography of the paparazzi. I also briefly ranted about my pet peeve at concerts when people use flash photography for an impossible photo only to get the well-lit backs of other audience members' heads.