These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer. 

And if you want more photography stuff to read, there's a place on the interwebz where past emails I wrote are stored. You'll find 'em in the "Newsletter Hub." 

Remember, I'd like to know what you want to know about photography. So, If you have any questions, ask by sending an email to me at sam@samdamico.com. And for what it's worth. When you send me an email, unless someone's lookin' over my shoulder, I'm the only one that sees it.

Characteristics of Light

Light is the raw material we work with. 

Light to photographers is like clay to a potter or words to a writer. 

A writer uses a pen to write words to communicate what they see, think, or feel.

A photographer uses a camera to record light to photograph what they see, think, or feel.

Light has characteristics that we can describe. We can see and think of these light sources on a base level in two ways. The first is transmitting or illuminating, and the second is reflective. 

We see reflective light sources only because an illuminating/transmitting light affects it. Think of the sun lighting our part of the planet and illuminating, or making visible, all the reflective light sources we get to see and photograph.

And learning to describe the characteristics of the light we're seeing is good practice. 

This is important because when we understand the light we're seeing, we'll know what to do with camera operation to get the best picture possible to communicate what we'd like to express intentionally. 

Characteristics of Light: There's Eight

Hello , 

Since Monday, July 24, 2023, I've been writing a weekly series about the characteristics of light. 

You can always look 'em up in the newsletter hub if you want to review them. 

This'll be the last installment in the series. I've got another series idea lined up. I'm thinking of starting a "Business of Photography" series. But if you have other ideas that'll make a good series, email them to me. 

Just as a recap, here are the eight characteristics of light. And after number one, Type of source, they're in alphabetical order.

1. Type of source (reflective or transmitting)
2. Color
3. Direction
4. Distribution
5. Duration
6. Intensity
7. Movement
8. Texture

During the Introduction To Photography class today, I mentioned we should become familiar with what light is doing, especially when considering the photograph we're thinking of making. 

We've gotta be aware of how the transmitting light source(s) affect the characteristics of the reflective light source(s) we photograph. 

This is important because it helps us understand how to make the best intentional photograph.  

And when it comes to making the best intentional photograph, working in fully automatic exposure mode heavily limits our ability to do that.

Our better options are aperture and shutter priority modes.

But our best option to create intentionally unique photographs is in fully manual exposure mode.  

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture today. 

That's all for now; thanks for reading!

Sam 

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me. 

And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? If that's the case, let's schedule a one-time lesson or a series of in-person or online private instruction that covers the same things as my group classes. 

Ways to work with me are listed below.

I look forward to helping you be a better photographer.

Best Regards, 

Sam