Digital Camera Light Direction

The direction of the light and the direction of observation can form a larger or smaller angel; this is determinant for the weight of the shadows in an image (contrast), and for the volume we can appreciate in it. When the direction of the light coincides with that of our line of vision (the light is behind the camera), the majority of the shadows are formed behind the bodies which originate them, and therefore will be almost invisible for us ( frontal light ); in this case, everything we see is illuminated, without shadows; the lighting is flat because it doesn't manifest volume or texture. If the light reaches in an

oblique form, some shadows gain importance, highlighting the relief of the scene and the texture of the surfaces. When the direction of the light is perpendicular to the axis of the lens we have maximum juxtaposition of the lights and shadows on the scene. In the case that the direction of the light forms an angle superior to 90º, it becomes a backlight, with a general disposition of shadows in the scene, which will cause and image to be silhouetted with more or less volume. With translucent bodies, the backlight lets us photograph the light they transmit .