The Color Of Light

The Color of Light

I've always loved watching light through a crystal prism, seeing all the beautiful colors dancing inside or making rainbows on the walls.  I've marveled at the beautiful white snow, knowing that each flake is actually completely clear.  I love photographing the beach in the early morning light, giving everything a cool, blueish tint with pinks mixed in from the rising sun.  Ahhh, but in the evening...there is nothing more beautiful than the warm sunset light bathing the water and sands in red, orange, and gold.

The time of day that you take a photograph has a huge impact on your image.  But did you know, also, that florescent lights give a greenish cast to a photo while tungsten lights will give it an orange cast.  For instance, if I'm photographing a person looking out a window and there is a lamp nearby, I can have cool tones on the subject's face from the cooler daylight coming through the window and have an orange cast on their hair and back from the lamp.  Fortunately, there are ways to correct the color balance so the entire image is the same color instead of having a portrait of a beautiful young lady with a blue face and orange hair!

I'm heading to IL tomorrow to see my family.  February 9 is my Dad's 90th birthday and February 18 is my youngest granddaughter's first birthday, so I'll be back February 20.  I hope to write some while I'm visiting but I'm going to be pretty busy playing with my granddaughter!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Lighting Is The Key!

Whether using a cell phone or a professional camera, lighting is key.  In this example, I'm using only a cell phone and window light.  In the first example, Pam's face is dark because the light from the window is only lighting the side of her face.  In the second one, I've asked Pam to turn so the lighting is on the mask of her face (eyes, nose,

mouth area) with nice shading on her cheek for contour.  Its a beautiful, soft lighting.

So Many Photography Tips in My Head...: Photography Tip: Watch The Light!

So Many Photography Tips in My Head...: Photography Tip: Watch The Light!: So, this is my first blog!  I'm finally getting around to actually doing it!  For so long, I've thought of tips I'd like to shar...

Photography Tip: Watch The Light!

So, this is my first blog!  I'm finally getting around to actually doing it!  For so long, I've thought of tips I'd like to share with people,  Tips about taking better photos with your camera, and even your cell phone.  Tips about how to get a better photograph of you!  I hope in the following weeks, I'll share something that will be helpful to you!  Please feel free to ask questions.  If I don't know the answer, I'll try to get one for you.  I'm a second generation professional photographer, having grown up in my father's studio in the black-and-white days.  I owned my own studio in Taylorville, IL, for 15 years and have owned Sexson Photography in Milford, CT, for over three years now.  I'm a Certified Professional Photographer, not a wannabe.  I'm on the Executive Board of the CT Professional Photographers Association.  I don't claim to know it all or be the best but, as I mentioned, if I don't know the answer, I probably know someone who does!

Tip 1
So, my first tip for photographers, whether brand new, using a cell phone or professional camera, is...watch for the light!  Did you know the word "photography" comes from two Greek words that mean painting or drawing with light?  Watch where your light is coming from and how it is affecting your subject, whether a person or a landscape.  For instance, if photographing a building that faces west, its better photographed towards noon when shadows are very short, or later in the afternoon when the sun is hitting the front of the building and giving it a pretty lighting.  In the morning, the west-facing building will be in shade, rather than lit by the sun.

More tomorrow on lighting!