Photography

Noticing the light

A few things to look for before reaching for a camera.

A white wall can be more useful than a wide view. Look at its edge: on one side the light may be warm, on the other almost blue. A photograph of that small difference can say more about the afternoon than a picture of the whole street.

Start with the shadows. A sharp line tells you the light is direct. A soft edge suggests a larger source, perhaps a bright patch of sky. Neither is better; they give you different pictures. Soft light makes texture easy to read. Hard light can turn a familiar object into a shape.

The obvious subject doesn't always make the best frame. Pointing straight at the sunset often loses the colour in a white patch. Turn around instead. The same light may be catching a fence, the top of a tree, or a window across the road.

Try the same frame from two positions. Moving a step to the left can remove a bright distraction without changing the subject. Before taking another photograph, check the corners. That's often where the unwanted branch or half a parked car ends up.

Leave a little room for a plain picture. Not every photograph needs a dramatic sky. An even patch of light on an ordinary path is worth keeping, too.