Photo Discussion
Category: Constructive Critique

Photographer Light & Time Shade

	Photographer Light & Time Shade f/5.0 @ 1/40, shade 6:15 pm Karen N. Guertin
	Remove blue cast of shade in Photoshop Roxie Guilhamet

Now compare your sunny shots with this portrait in the shade. See how shade mitigates the harsh noon shadows? (Overcast light would do the same.) That means, if you have to take a portrait of someone at noon, find a spot out of the overhead sun. Window light will also give you sidelight.

Photographer's Time has one more important value that you need to understand. Look at the color of the light in these portraits. It's easy to see in his hair and skin tone. Shade has a blue cast whereas the low angled sun is warm.

If you took a shot with the setting sun lighting your subject, you would see the warmth even more. That's what photographers call "Magic light." Try it at the beach sometime. You'll then see why they call it Magic.

You can remove that blue cast in Photoshop (picture on right). Seeing them side by side makes it obvious.

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June 29, 2011