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Lighting Techniques
Contact sheet of lighting techniques — each frame carries the same six exposure notes.
The Great Flash Debate: TTL vs. Manual for Stunning Portraits
Lighting Artificial lighting with flash, comparing TTL and manual modesLens Medium telephoto focal length (85mm-135mm equivalent) for flattering compressionSetting Aperture priority or manual mode, shutter speed at sync speed or below, ISO 100-400, aperture f/2.8-f/5.6
The debate between TTL and manual flash for portrait photography is as old as flash itself.
Stop Blaming Your Camera: Lighting Myths Every Photographer Should Ditch
Lighting Natural and available light, including directional daylight, open shade, window light, and simple one-light setups, with attention to quality, direction, and color of lightLens Moderate focal lengths, roughly normal to short telephoto, chosen to control perspective and background compression without extreme distortionSetting Manual or aperture-priority exposure with base ISO, an aperture that suits the depth of field, and a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the intended motion
Lighting is the part of photography that beginners most often blame on their equipment.
Stopping Blown-Out Skies: Why I Always Expose to the Right
Lighting Natural daylight, often high-contrast scenes with bright skies and darker foregroundsLens Wide-angle to standard focal lengths (e.g., 16-35mm or 24-70mm equivalent) to capture expansive skies and foreground interestSetting Aperture priority or manual mode, ISO 100, aperture f/8-f/16, shutter speed adjusted for ETTR, often with exposure compensation
Exposing to the right (ETTR) is a digital photography technique where you intentionally push the histogram as far to the right as possible without clipping the highlights.
Why Your Histogram Is Lying to You and How to Fix It
Lighting Any lighting condition, from high-contrast sunlight to low-light interiorsLens Any focal length; the histogram is independent of lens choiceSetting Varies by scene; typically ISO, aperture, and shutter speed adjusted based on histogram feedback
The histogram is one of the most misunderstood tools in photography.
Shaping Light: Sensor Size vs. Lenses in Studio Portraits
Lighting Controlled studio lighting with modifiersLens Medium telephoto focal length (e.g., 85mm equivalent)Setting Aperture f/4 to f/8, ISO 100-400, shutter speed 1/125s or faster
In studio portraiture, the interplay between sensor size and lens choice profoundly influences how light is shaped and captured.
Stop Chasing Gear: Why Light Direction Beats Sensor Size
Lighting Directional natural light, side and backlightingLens 50mm to 85mm equivalent focal lengthSetting Aperture priority, f/2.8 to f/5.6, ISO 100-400, evaluative metering
The photography world often fixates on sensor size as the ultimate measure of image quality.