2. Lighting Choices

• Avoid Backlight. If the sun, or an indoor light, is behind the subject, your shot will usually look underexposed in the centre, and overexposed around the edges. However, use backlight if you want to shoot your subject as a silhouette, or to create specific moods.
• Use Indirect Light. Ever notice how hard it is to look good when you are squinting into the sunlight, or how pictures taken with a flash tend to look flat and harsh? Using indirect light, either in the shade outdoors, or through a sheet! paper filter indoors, will improve your photographs.
• Use Natural Light where possible, for example, indoor light through a window often looks very flattering on subjects. If the light is bright sunlight, the contrast with the subject will look pleasingly dramatic
• Make your own Indoor Studio. When shooting the Story Scenes activity in this package, consider making your own indoor studio. You need to TURN OFF YOUR FLASH on the camera, and use either natural light or photographic lights. Floodlight bulbs and aluminum clamp work lights are easy to find, at a camera store and a hardware store. They are quite inexpensive, and will let students experiment with professional style lighting. The only other materials you need are: duct tape, backdrop sheets, any props, and your ready to shoot camera.

Very strong artificial lighting will cast lots of shadows, and will make the shot look "staged" and dramatic.