Peculiarities of Light Photography - Essay Example

The author of the paper will begin with the statement that he learned several things from the light photography assignment. First, when the source becomes narrower, the light becomes harder. The author of the paper states that a broad source of light lessens shadows, reducing contrast and suppressing texture whereas a narrow source of light does the opposite because, with a broad light source, light rays hit the subject from more directions tending to fill in shadows and giving more illumination to the scene.

Secondly, when you move a light closer, it becomes bigger in relation to the subject. When it is moved further away, it grows smaller and thus narrower. Diffusion scatters light making the source broader and softer. For example, when clouds drift in front of the sun, shadows get less distinct. For the shadows to disappear, just add fog.Thirdly, bouncing light acts as diffusion. By aiming a narrow source of light at a broad matte surface such as wall and ceiling, it will not only reflect the light but will also diffuse it by scattering it over a wider area.

It is evidently clear from the discussion that the further the light source, the more it falls off meaning it gets dimmer on your subject. If the light is moved twice as far from the subject you end up with only one-quarter of it on the subject.