What does "photography" mean to you? If you look up the word in the dictionary, this is what you will see- " the art or practice of taking and processing photographs."
Which is true. I prefer to give it this definition-"Painting with Light".
We have been talking about a few basic tips that will help you in your photography journey, and they all have to do with light. This next tip has to do with mottled light.
TIP 3- Your image should not have mottled light.
So, what exactly does that mean? Mottled means-"marked with spots or smears of color", and in the photography world, it means the same thing. Your subject should not be marked with spots or smears of light on their face or have these spots in other areas of the photograph. Have you ever photographed someone under a tree when the sun is blazing down through the leaves? Where did the light fall on their face?
Most likely, the leaves provided some coverage, but where the light shined in between the leaves you will see spots on your subject's face and a small spot or area of blotched light on the ground. Just look at the image below.
Do you see the bright spots of light behind the subject? Those were created by sunlight shining through the trees behind us. The lighting on the subject is good-no mottled spots, but there is too much mottled light behind her. I should have brought her into a different area that did not have those spots.
Take a look at the next image. Still taken outside and the sun was very bright.
This image was taken on a path with the tree cover next to us and behind, so there are still a few spots of brightness, but no mottled spots on their faces, or behind, or on the sides.
The subjects are the brightest part of the image for the most part and there are no overexposed or overblown highlights, and no mottled spots anywhere.
To sum up-when you are outside in the bright sun, look at the area you are photographing in. Size it up-look at all the details and look for mottled light.
Place your subject in the open shade areas if you can, and make sure there are no spots on his or her face, or on the ground. And, you will be good to go!
To view more of the great families we have had the honor of photographing, just visit us here-FAMILY PORTFOLIO
See how we use the natural light we have available to us-how we got it right and how we didn't!
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