lighting

What Is the Cold Shoe in Photography?

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The Cold Shoe is a useful tool for photographers to understand exactly where the light in their picture comes from.

Cold Shoe Light Meter

The Cold Shoe is a small light meter designed to be attached to a camera with a shoe mount. The cold shoe provides light readings for both ambient and flash photography.

When you switch on the Cold Shoe you will see a reading of both the ambient and flash light. It will show the amount of light falling on the sensor as a percentage of the available light. It will also tell you how much light has been reflected off the subject in the picture (ambient) and how much light has been emitted by the flash (flash).

This information is extremely useful for taking pictures in difficult lighting conditions.

To activate the Cold Shoe, place the Cold Shoe meter in the camera’s shoe mount.

You will … Read the rest

5 Best Photography Lighting Courses in 2023

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If you’re looking to improve your photography skills, you’ll need to consider the right equipment. A good camera system, and the knowledge to use it effectively, will enable you to capture your best photos. But it doesn’t stop there – you’ll also need to take a look at the various lighting courses available to help you achieve better results. The courses we’ve chosen are the ones that are likely to have the biggest impact on your skill level. They range from those aimed at beginners to those which are more advanced, and offer a variety of techniques and approaches. By following one or a combination of these, you’ll be able to produce the best results possible.

Beginners Level Lighting Course – The Complete Guide

The Beginners Level Lighting Course is suitable for anyone looking to gain an overview of the basics of shooting with different types of light. It will … Read the rest

How to Use Low Key Lighting for Amazing Photography

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Low Key Lighting

Low Key Lighting

Low key lighting is a subtle approach to lighting photography that can be used successfully with dramatic portraits. Low key lighting can be done using ambient light coming through windows or skylights, or simply natural light. The key is to find the best angle of sunlight and to position yourself where it hits you straight on. It can be done by putting yourself in the sunlight in the early morning, afternoon or evening hours, and just turning around to face the light. As you turn around, you will see the light as a silhouette against the sky. As you move further away from the sun, the light will soften and look more diffuse.

The ideal time to photograph this is early morning, late evening or anytime during the day that is overcast, or at sunset or twilight. It can also be used for portraits that are in … Read the rest

How to Use Backlight to Create Amazing Images

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photography lights

The key to great photography is good light. To produce a professional quality image, whether in black and white or color, you need a variety of lighting.

Light is one of the most powerful creative tools available. It can enhance almost any subject and it has the ability to shape people and their surroundings.

You can use ambient natural light (such as sunlight), or artificial lights, such as flash. It’s often said that “light is the best camera.” But you can also create interesting light effects using your camera’s exposure modes.

Here are a few ways to use backlight to create a stunning image.

1. Backlight

backlight

This technique is great for creating dramatic images, particularly portraits. Backlighting adds depth to an image and gives it a dramatic look. The light source should be behind the subject (and ideally off-camera) to give a dramatic effect.

As with any image, you need … Read the rest