SUNS & SCAPES: UTILIZING THE SUN, STARS, AND STREETLIGHTS

When looking to take a photograph, utilizing natural and artificial light is key to make something both unique and exciting. As explored in our Perspective Series, through changing what is viewed by manipulating Context, Zoom, and Direction, in tandem with environmental consideration, a whole new image can be created. With the potential to add other lighting and color sources such as flowers, storefronts, and puddles, your options are as limitless as your imagination.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCERS

THE SUN

Simple an idea as it sounds, using the sun to influence your photograph is an effective way to create a masterpiece from a seemingly generic idea. The sun primarily is used to increase exposure, but can be tailored to each individual pictures needs, with the ability to create isolated events such as light leaks. For those shooting on videogames such as us, these light leaks and exposure points are critical in creating a sense of realism.

URBAN LIGHTING

Urban lighting such as streetlights, storefronts, and other cars are a creative way to add pops of color and light to any picture. An advanced tactic, utilizing an urban environment's characteristics gives a picture massive potential. When looking at urban augmentations, let your imagination run wild, for the more diverse and creative options you can find and incorporate, the more impressive the final product will end up being.

STARS

The night sky and its stars are difficult to create into an effective augmentation. Largely unexplored when it comes to photography, the stars, when done right add another layer to an already excellent picture. The stars, by themselves aren't expressive enough to single-handedly create a good photo however, as unlike overlooks, their limited brightness and small size give them very little influence.

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND TRICKS

- Try to use augmentations that reflect back a single color. For example, if I were to take a photograph of a highway at night, all the lights would be red (taillights). But if I included cars going the other way, giving off a bright white light, and one may find that disconcerting.

- To get brighter stars, increase both the saturation of color and exposure of the sky to make them stand out

- Use the sun to cover up tiny photographic imperfections, as well as create a space where it'll be easy to edit out any watermarks or insert extra effects

Continue with our teaching series to learn more photography techniques such as Context, Zoom, and Orientation. Click here for more from Project Overtake.