Requirement
At least 4 images, 4 different directions of sunlight
Purpose
- To show the advantages of shooting when the sun is low and how to use camera angle to good effect
Technical learning
- In summer the sun is 'low' for 2 hours after and before sunrise and sunset respectively, in mid winter the sun is low throughout the day
- Twilight, just before sunrise or after sunset, can provide interesting opportunities
- The best views are ones towards the brightest part of the horizon, which produces 2 particualr types of image: silhouette and colour
- For silhouettes: look for interesting shaoes towards the horizon (e.g. trees, mountains, buildings)
- For colour: look for broken cloud, which can create spectacular colours, although the effect is always unpredictable. Reflections in water can add drama. Sometimes at sunset the sky can flash briefly into life after the sun has lost its colour.
- Wide angle lenses capture vibrant colours, whilst telephoto ones mute them
- Front: shows intense impact of sunlight, but take care not to include own shadow unintentionally
- Side: presents the subject partially lit, partially in shadow, so consider carefully the choice of exposure as the averaging effect of the meter is likely to over-expose the highlights
- Back: creates silhouettes, so consider using brackets to be able to select which image achieve the best result in terms of detail in the shadows
- Edge: shows the impact of light falling on the edge of the subject (without the sun being in the frame), so needs a draker background to isolate this effect
Exercise instructions
- Select any sunlit subject
- Take several images with different directions of light (side, side, back, edge)
- Produce 4 as a final result
Images and review
Verdi - project revisited
I didn't like the images of the soap stone Buddha so repeated the exercise just before submitting my assignment. This time I used a bust of Verdi, the composer (bought in an Oxfam shop for £1.99 for the purpose and cleaned up by gentle bleaching). I shot these images in a makeshift outdoor studio used black card as a negative space.
Soap stone Buddha - first attempt at exercise
Shot at 18.00, early April, sun at elevation of c 15°, using roof of silver car as stand both to catch the sun and to enhance light source.
I didn't like the images of the soap stone Buddha so repeated the exercise just before submitting my assignment. This time I used a bust of Verdi, the composer (bought in an Oxfam shop for £1.99 for the purpose and cleaned up by gentle bleaching). I shot these images in a makeshift outdoor studio used black card as a negative space.
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| Facing Sun |
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| Backlit by sun |
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| Side lit at 90 degrees |
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| Facing 3 quaters away from the sun |
Soap stone Buddha - first attempt at exercise
Shot at 18.00, early April, sun at elevation of c 15°, using roof of silver car as stand both to catch the sun and to enhance light source.
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| Front Reveals nearly all the detail, lightens and adds yellow to reddish brown soap stone |
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| Back Creates a near silhouette |
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| Side Reveals texture of figurine, most faithful rendition of colour |
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| Edge Used reflection of sun from metal to create star effect over statue's shoulder |
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