A Comprehensive Guide to Lighting in Photography
Lighting in photography is one of the most vital elements to master and can make the difference between a good photo and a spectacular one.
Whether you’re capturing the golden hues of sunrise, the dramatic shadows of a forest, or wildlife backlit by a setting sun, understanding and using light effectively will elevate your photography to new heights.
So, without further ado, this complete list of tutorials will help you understand and master lighting in photography. From understanding lighting in landscape photography to finding light underwater, we have tips and tutorials for all nature photographers.
Read more: The Comprehensive Guide to Exposure in Photography
Lighting in wildlife photography
To create images of wildlife that truely stand out, it’s important to understand how light falls, the qualities it possesses, and how to harness it.
These following guides will help you to gain a deeper understanding of light and how it relates to wildlife photography, and we also share some techniques to take your imagery to the next level.
- Choosing the Best Lighting for Wildlife Photos
- How to Photograph Wildlife in Low Light
- Backlighting in Wildlife Photography: Creative Use of Light
- How to Harness Light in Bird Photography
- How to Harness Artificial Light for Stand Out Urban Wildlife Photos
- How to Photograph Wildlife at Golden Hour
Lighting in landscape photography
Understanding lighting in landscape photography goes beyond understanding exposure. One of the most powerful skill sets that a landscape photographer can have is the ability to identify, plan, and adapt to ever-changing lighting conditions.
The following tutorials will help you understand how to find and use light in landscape photography, in both optimal and not-so-optimal conditions.
- How to Find and Use Light in Landscape Photography
- How to Make the Most of Bad Light in Landscape Photos
- Golden Hour Photography: A Landscape Photographer’s Guide
- How to Master Backlighting in Landscape Photography
- How to Use Backlighting in Landscape Photography
- Rainforest Photography: A Guide to Lighting
- How to Manage Lighting in Desert Photography
- How to Use Reflected Light for Better Landscape Photos
Lighting in underwater photography
Learning how to find, create, and use light in underwater can be one of the most essential and difficult skills to learn, but one that will make your photography stand out from the crowd.
Whether you are photographing ocean giants on shallow dives, where ambient light is plentiful, or going deeper under the waves, these tips will help you master lighting as part of your underwater photography workflow.
- 8 Tips for Creating Amazing Lighting in Underwater Photos
- An Introduction to Using Strobes in Underwater Photography
- How to Photograph Underwater Fluorescence With Blue Light
Lighting for macro photography
Whether you are photographing amphibians or insects up close, or the finer details found in nature, lighting remains a critical element in macro photography.
These guides will help you to master lighting when photographing the macro world.
- Backlighting in Macro Photography
- How to Balance Flash with Ambient Light in Macro Photography
- How to Photograph Backlit Autumn Leaves with Flash
- How to Photograph Reptiles and Amphibians with Flash
In conclusion
Whatever your subject, lighting is a crucial element to master for creating memorable and standout images.
Use the guides above to learn how to harness the power of lighting in photography and take your work to the next level.
We’d love to see how you use light – don’t forget to share your images with us!
