Light/Shadow

Light and shadow significantly influence the mood of a photograph and often give it a striking aura as a result of stark contrast. This technique allows the photographer to make things visible or obscure objects in order to emphasize a certain aspect of the picture.

Importance. Together, light and shadow establish the correlation of one object to another and their place in the full scene of a photograph. Shadows are commonly used to create dramatic effect and produce a feeling of coldness or scariness. Increasing the amount of light in a picture often results in a feeling of warmness. The combination of light and shadow can consequently manipulate the spirit of the subject in the photograph.

Method. Altering the light source of a photograph changes the tone of the scene or subject entirely. For instance, placing the light source above the subject will cast the shadow on the lower portion of the subject, whereas placing it below the subject will cause the shadow to fall on top of the subject, often creating a "spooky" feeling. The light source can also be placed to either ide of the subject to highlight (or obscure) a certain aspect within the frame. However, if the light source cannot be altered (e.g. the sun), the photographer may have to change his angle to make the light fall differently on the subject.