Finding the light

My tips for using light effectively

By Michael Wilson

February 5^th, 2025

Drawn to light

This week I was working on a video, talking through a couple of photos I took in Antwerp. And as I was explaining why I took those shots, it hit me: I'm a sucker for certain types of light. It's like a magnet for my camera! So, I thought I'd share the types of light that always catch my eye (and my camera lens!).

Searching for contrast

The photo that kicked off this whole post? It's of someone in bright red trousers walking along the shady side of a building. The other side of the building was drenched in gorgeous sunlight, making the shadow side super deep. I hung around until this person walked into the shade so they'd really pop against it.

And you know what? Looking back at my photos, I do this all the time. Whenever I spot a building corner with that kind of crazy light contrast, I'm instantly hooked. I guess that strong contrast between light and shadow is what I'm always searching for.

Emerging out of the shadows

Another visual theme I keep coming back to is people emerging from the shadows. I'll often find myself drawn to a darkened doorway, a shadowy alley, anyplace where someone might suddenly appear. I love waiting to see if anyone will emerge, and then capturing that moment when they're partly shrouded in shadow, partly bathed in light. There's something about that transition, that sense of emergence, that I find really beautiful.

Making your subjects pop

So, as you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of contrast! Instead of waiting for someone to come out of the shadows (which can be tricky timing-wise), a handy technique I use is to find a pool of light and wait for someone to walk through it. The secret sauce? Make sure the illuminated subject is positioned against a dark background. That's how you create real impact.

Finding that dramatic light

Okay, so imagine this: if you're facing the light source directly, that's 0 degrees. Light coming from straight behind you? That's 180 degrees. And from the side? 90 degrees. Now, here's a little trick I've learned: the most dramatic lighting usually happens somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees. This kind of light creates depth by casting shadows, which I think is way more interesting to look at.

So, next time you're setting up a shot, try moving around a bit and see if you can position the light somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees. You might be surprised at the difference!

The power of light (and shade)

Okay, so here's a look at two photos that are almost identical – the only difference is the light. In the first one, the person's caught in a beam of sunlight, while everything else is pretty much in shadow. Then, check out the second one: everything's lit evenly, kind of flat. You can see how the colors are a bit more muted and the contrast is way less.