Photography Or The Writing Of Light

Photography or the writing of light

In this era of smartphones, there are many who believe photography is all about quick shots with their phones. Amateur photographers will concentrate on mega-pixel as if that is what makes photography what it is. Nothing can be farther from the truth. These are all wrong notions. Let’s go to the fundamentals in order to understand what photography is.

What is photography?

Two words make up the word photography – photo and graphy. Photo literally means “light” while graphy means “writing”. From this little explanation, you would understand that photography is about writing with light. It means a graphologist is simply a handwriting analyst. So, the point here is about the use of light. Light is at the core of photography. You can’t take away light from photography and say you are practising photography.

There is no doubt resolution in the form of mega-pixel is going to play an important role in the quality of the photo but there would be a visible huge difference when large prints are made.  Also, the zoom is an important aspect in photography but that does not mean that a camera without a zoom cannot take a good shot.

Another aspect is the “photoshopping” of pictures.  The use of software cannot replace the fundamentals of photography. Photoshop cannot fix all the issues in a photograph. Great photographs are made by great photographers; and not by great desktop publishers. Photoshop cannot take care of the inappropriate color temperature. No software can take the place of light in photography. Make efforts to invest in lights. It must not be expensive studio lights. You can invest in a quality flash. Remember that the best form of light is the natural light – sun. A little bit of sunlight will make a great difference in your shots. Avoid the use of fluorescent light. It will only make the pictures to look very unreal. Whether you are using a digital camera, an Android or iPhone, try to make use of the flash.

Useful light writing tips

•    Always try to use brighter lights for farther away shots. Use dimmer lights when very close. You can create more precise patterns or designs when you have a tight beam.

•    It is tricky to turn the light on and off. Sometimes, you may have to use your hand to block the light

•    If you don’t want to be seen writing, it is advised that you wear a black cloth

•    Always write over water or anything that has reflective surfaces in order to create fascinating reflections

•    Always try to write over darker parts of the background so as to have the best contrast.

•    Remember that whatever you draw appear backwards. So, it makes sense to either write backwards or just flip the photograph horizontally.

Conclusion

  Light is everything in photography. You cannot take away the place of light in photography. Lights are at the core of photography. Using lights properly is a great skill that will improve a photographer’s work.