Shoot Less for Better Pictures

While it may seem too good to be true, you can actually improve your photography by limiting when you take pictures. This is possible because the sun, which is the main light source, can actually harm your images during the middle of the day. This is due to the intense, harsh light that the sun directly shines onto your subjects. This can lead to muted colors, glare, loss of details, and many more problems. In order to use the sun to your advantage, you need to make a point to take pictures during the sun's optimum times.

The best lighting from the sun is early and late in the day when the sun is low on the horizon. This often leads to natural diffusion of the light by trees and other parts of the landscape. This softer, less harsh light is referred to as "sweet light". This type of light creates dramatic images with richer colors and sharper details. It is also extremely ideal for shooting situations involving reflections, which often involves water, glass, or metals.

A comparision of two waterfall photographs will help to illustrate the advantages of shooting early and late in the day. The photo below of Lye Brook Falls (Manchester, VT), was shot in the early afternoon in peak sunlight. The trees at the top are have been muted to a light green, and the underside of the branches lack detail due to the camera exposing for the bright light. Even more distracting is the loss of detail in the falling water due to glare. I knew going in that the light was not going to be good, but I was more interested in visiting it for the first time with friends.


By contrast, the photo below of Mill River Falls (Georgia, VT) was shot at dusk with ideal lighting conditions. The trees have a dark green color rich in detail. The falling water is a desired soft white and even contains some light blue tints which occasionally occur in the evening light. The lower pool is dark, and reflects the falls rather than sunlight. This site is only ten minutes from my home, so it was easy to shoot the falls and get out of the woods before dark.

It took me a few years to realize that landscapes change dramatically througout the day. It actually made it easier for me to plan shoots knowing that the lighting would make certain shots nearly impossible to overcome the sun. It is sometimes impossible to avoid shooting in full sunlight, especially during travel and events with a set time. When this occurs, you can help to improve the situation by modifying composition and using a variety of filters. However, if you want to maximize your chances of taking your best pictures, shoot less to get more out of your efforts.

Stay tuned for future posts about photography techniques, equipment, etc.

Chris M. Hungerford

http://www.chrishungerford.com/