Lighting How To

Understanding exposure is an important part of the route that leads to creative photographs. Exposure in nature work is perhaps more challenging because there is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to the outdoors; each moment is unique, as seen in this photograph of the moon (#1). Being able to expose the moon perfectly made it possible for me to focus on the task at hand—capturing one single bird flying across it.

There are two important facts about flash photography that everyone should understand: The first is that a simple external flash mounted atop a camera (or used remotely for even better results), can make a huge difference in photographs when shooting indoors or out. Number two is that the use of an accessory flash is much easier than most photographers think.

I doubt anyone could foresee the rapid changes digital technology has brought to photography. As a veteran of the business (40+ years), we have come a long way from the match-needle metering and manual flash units of the past. Heck, I can remember when thyristor circuits were a big deal because they could help us automate flash exposures.

Phillippe Echaroux is a French celebrity and advertising photographer who typically uses the best cameras and studio gear available. So what happened when the folks at ISO 1200 challenged him to shoot portraits with an iPhone, a cheap flashlight, and a Big Mac Box for a light modifier? The awesome portraits he shot speak for themselves.

Jen Rozenbaum is a wife, mom and an award-winning boudoir photographer, who shot the stunning cover for the March issue of Shutterbug. In the video below, she demonstrates the posing, communication and shooting techniques that are essential to her success

Now that the days are getting longer and summer is barely two weeks away photographers are spending more time outdoors, often shooting under less than ideal light. In the video below portrait photographer Manny Ortiz demonstrates how to take amazing portraits in high-contrast situations when the sun is high in the sky.

If you think studio lighting is too difficult or challenging, you’re wrong. In the quick and easy lighting how-to video below from photographer Brett Seeley, he shows you how you can do 13 eye-catching lighting setups with just one light.