Creative ways to use light in your photography

Looking for creative ways to use light in your photography? Light is the lifeblood of any photograph, but you already knew that. As a photographer, you’re often at its mercy. Other times, it’s at yours. You can work within the limits of an existing light source and make the most of it, or you can bend it to your will and make the most creative use of it. Here are a few surefire ways to experiment with both.

Try your hand at light painting
This technique offers a more radical approach to creative uses for light. In light painting, you introduce a dynamic and incandescent abstract element into the shot by combining a moving source of light and a slow exposure time.

This can be done indoors or out but is best conducted in a dark environment. The light source could be anything from a match or a sparkler to a glow stick or a smartphone. The background remains static while the light source moves across the frame and traces itself onto the camera’s sensor (you’ll probably need a tripod and remote shutter release for this).

Alternatively, the light source can remain static while the camera is set in motion. Either way, there’s an unlimited number of ways to express yourself in light painting and to leave a lasting impression with a creative one-of-a-kind photograph.

Use a flash for street photography
Certain purists among street photographers will tell you that the objective of this genre is simply to capture life on the streets spontaneously as it happens, preserving the authentic moment undisturbed and unaltered. The bravest street photographers won’t hesitate to shoot their unsuspecting subject at close range, introducing an element of surprise and candor, but it takes an extra measure of chutzpah to mount a flash on your camera, potentially drawing attention to yourself and blowing your cover.

Some street photographers wouldn’t work without an on-camera flash, however, and a select few have made it their calling card, even when shooting in daylight. The results usually outweigh the risks, giving their shots an added element of visual impact and emotional drama. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could also try using on off-camera flash.

Shoot during the Golden Hour
It sounds like a cliché, but timing your shoot to coincide with the hours around sunrise and sunset is a very effective and affordable way to make the best possible use of available natural light. This is a standard tactic for genres like landscapes and cityscapes, with images draped in stunning sunlight and dramatic shadows, but even portrait photography can benefit from the soft warm glow of sunshine before it becomes glaringly garish. It’s a versatile light source, too. You can position your subject in multiple scenarios: front- or backlit, in silhouette, and even harness sun flares and halo effects to great advantage.

Use a light modifier
This is a no-brainer. Whether you’re shooting in natural or artificial light – or some combination of both – a reflector is a tried-and-true method to eliminate shadows, reduce contrast and get more flattering results on a subject’s face. Reflectors come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours and can be positioned strategically at just about any angle to achieve a range of subtle effects.

Diffusers offer another easy way to soften light, spreading the illumination more evenly by creating a barrier with various degrees of translucence between the light source and the subject. You can get pretty creative with reflectors and diffusers. Practice and experiment to see what works best for any given situation. Pretty soon, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without them.

Image Credits:
Cover Image: Sandro Gonzalez
Golden Hour Image: Sean Pierce 
Light Painting: Xuan Nguyen