Study Photographic Lighting at Home

Lighting is a critical factor in photography. Light source can be defined in terms of four properties:

• Colour Temperature
• Power (or Brightness)
• Size
• Prevailing Direction

This course will develop your understanding of light in photography and how to use different lighting equipment and techniques to achieve desired effects in a final image.

Management of lighting is an essential skill in photography. To manage light properly requires planning a photograph before it is taken.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Light Characteristics and Lighting Concepts
2. Light Sources
3. Meters and Filters
4. Other Equipment for Lighting
5. Contrast and Composition
6. The Zone System
7. Studio Lighting
8. On-Location Lighting

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Discuss the scope and nature of lighting as relevant to photography.
• Describe how different light sources will affect different images in varying ways.
• Describe how different filters can be used to create different lighting effects.
• Identify the differences between different types of light meters.
• Describe the range of equipment which can be used to help achieve more desirable light conditions for photography.
• Explain contrast and how to compensate for imperfect light conditions.
• Explain how to use tone to create the desired final image.
• Distinguish between utilisation of light in a studio and on location.

• Investigate different film types with respect to suitability for different light conditions
• Set up and use a Computation Folder
• Shoot film of different subjects under a variety of light conditions
• Apply the zone system to different situations
• Analyse the lighting effects in various photos
• Research the characteristics and uses of different types of equipment