The Study of Light

We all know it's impossible to take a great animal shot without proper lighting, so let's review the way natural light will impact your outside photography and the location where you plan to shoot.

BACK LIGHTING
The sun is behind the animal. Very dramatic lighting.

FRONT LIGHTING
The sunlight is falling directly on the subject. While this light is excellent for illumination, note the harsh, pronounced shadows that occur in this type of lighting.

SIDE LIGHTING
One side of the subject is lit, while the other side is in shadow, producing "modeling," a technique used to show detail in the lighted side of the face.

DIFFUSE LIGHTING
Cloudy days produce "flat" light with no shadows and thus no direction to the light. Excellent for portraits.

Keeping the above in mind, here are my tips for good outside animal photography.

The best time of day for outside animal photography is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light is softer. Always avoid the glare of noonday sun when the shadows are harsh and unflattering on animals and people.

One of the best lighting conditions of all is a cloudy day when the clouds cover the sun and create a giant light box. With this diffuse light, you don't have to deal with the difficult exposure problems that shadows cause.

So for excellent results, always strive to take your animal portraits in diffuse light.