Natural Lighting Styles
- Taking Photographs at Dawn
Dawn is a great time for nature landscapes because it is the period just before sunrise. Often at this time, the light has a slightly more subtle almost pastel feel than the time after sunset for example. As the day gradually moves from blue hour to dawn, the lighting conditions begin to change dramatically.
- Taking Photographs During Golden Hour
The light at this time can help produce stunning results. The golden hour refers to the period just after the sun rises or just before it sets. The golden warm tone is due to the fact that the sun is lower in the sky in the morning and evening. This means the light passes through more atmosphere which scatters the bluer cooler light in the spectrum. This leaves us with the warmer red, orange, and yellow tones.
- Taking Photographs on Sunny Days
Winter time can be a fantastic time of year to shoot interesting photos during the daytime. In winter time, the sun stays low in the sky all day long. This means it casts long shadows and creates interesting side and backlighting. A clear blue sky does not distract from the main subject of the photo. The strong daytime light accentuates sharp detail, colours and textures in the architecture being photographed.
- Taking Photographs on Overcast Days
You can use these days to focus on details rather than vast sweeping landscapes. Once again, the even lighting is an advantage.
- Taking Photographs at Dusk
Dusk is the period just after the sun has set but there is still some color left in the sky especially on the horizon where the sun has just set. Often, we get an attractive orange afterglow and some stunning colours in the clouds at this time. The tones tend to be little more vivid at dusk than at dawn for example.
For the National Trust shoots I am planning on taking photos midday as my project is focused on architecture and that is when the lighting is quite strong so you can see sharp details, colours and textures.
