AYWMC: Part 3 Lesson 4: Fill Light

Lesson 3.4 in my own words

• Strong light from one source creates high contrast and hard shadows
• Creates high dynamic range (HDR)
• image is very bright on the light source side
• very dark on the other side
• Occurs because the camera's sensors have a smaller dynamic range than the eye.
• Fill light is secondary lighting to soften contrast and shadows
• Reduces the HDR by reducing the dynamic range of the whole image
• Created by shining light onto the shadows
• Can be another light source
• Can be a reflector

This week's project

• Take 2 photos
• Photo 1
• Take a photo with strong directional light (bright sunlight)
• Note the strong shadows
• Photo 2
• Repeat the first photo with a reflector opposite the light source
• Note the softened shadows
• Bonus photos
• Experiment with the reflector closer or farther away
• Experiment with aluminum foil or a mirror

I used white poster board for a reflector.

Photo 1 - no reflector

Photo 2 - with reflector

For the bonus photos, I used the white poster board reflector, each time moving it a little closer to the subject.

Bonus photo 1

Bonus photo 2

Bonus photo 3

The closer the reflective surface, the brighter the dark side of the subject. In the third photo, it looks like the reflector was the primary light source.

What I learned

I usually try to avoid taking photos in the direct sunlight because of the contrast. Now, I understand why it seems so harsh and what to do about it.