Natural Light In Glamour Images
Though most of the Glamour Images are shot in studios, photographers can make great use of natural or ambient light in creation of excellent glamour images. Sun is the basic source that emits clear white natural light – and there is no possible alternative to this near-infinite stream of quality shining; however, Sun’s position on the welkin due to the time of day, atmospheric conditions and other factors can create a variety of effects you may exploit for artistic and unusual ambiance, impossible to recreate in studio conditions.
To begin with, a glamour photographer can work with three basic kinds of sunlight: in the early morning, in the bright of day and before dusk, or shortly after it.
The morning light vanishes fast, yet it is widely believed to be the best kind you can get – warm enough to preserve colors, diffused to avoid rough shadows, falling from sharp angle – simply perfect. The morning light is cast rather sharply, almost horizontally against the earth surface, so the lighting comes from the side, subtle and dispersed; it is quite sensual and glamorous a light, so no wonder beauty artists love it.
Evening light is almost the same as early morning light that we get from the Sun, however, early morning light is clearer than the evening light because the day’s activity stir up dust in the atmosphere and there is some smog as well in evening light. Additionally, it often happens that during a cool evening which succeeded a warm day, it becomes misty and hazed.
In the afternoon or at midday you can have some more focused light from the sun, with lower color temperature. At this time of day, shadows shorten and the color temperature falls – such conditions are not very suitable for Glamorous Photography, apparently. The contrast between light and shadow becomes extreme due to focused light falling on the model, and most cameras cannot cope with it, losing details. However, you can still make some use from it and make highly contrasting pictures which combine highlights and shadows in extremis.
Consequently, you can always cope with almost any natural lighting conditions, provided you have skill and imagination – then your efforts will be rewarded with some fabulous glamour photographs. Beauty photography is an art, and natural light only helps to unveil another side to it – very romantic and sensual, just as our sun-lit world.
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