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2.2 - Quality Standards : Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of photography composition. With the rise of digital cameras and the electronic flash, quality in this area has diminished, replaced by the convenience of the "snap shot". The disadvantage of relying on the built-in flash is that its close location to the lens can cause severe shadows and unsightly reflections on shiny surfaces. When shooting stock photography, put priority in the balance of light in your image (to avoid the technical errors below).
Do Not Submit:
Reflections
Possible Solution: Distance yourself further from the object, or use natural or additional light sources, don't rely on the built-in flash. Use a diffuser for flash units.
Harsh shadows
Possible Solution: Bounce the flash, (from a wall for example), to even out lighting, or place wax paper over the flash to soften shadows.
Underexposed
Possible Solution: Decrease shutter speed or increase aperture size to let in more light.
Overexposed shadows
Possible Solution: Increase shutter speed or decrease aperture size to let in less light.
Lens flares
Cause: Recorded light refractions from direct light sources in the camera lens.
Possible Solution: Avoid pointing the camera directly at light sources (to reduce reflections within the lens), or lower the aperture to reduce reflections. Spot edit problem areas with a cloning tool.
Purple fringing
Cause: Commonly a problem of digital cameras when shooting in low light settings against high contrast borders, causing a purple, (or other hue), glow around edges. The issue can also be affected by lens model and focus quality.
Possible Solution: Adjust aperture settings to a higher level, (f4 and above) to balance light.
Tips:
- Keep in mind great lighting doesn't have to be expensive
- Use bleach white cloth, paper or cardboard to photograph isolated objects
- Use wax paper in front of the flash to subdue shadows
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