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Lack of shadows characterize front lit shots.Old European copper street lamp in front of bricks wall image by Rony Zmiri from Fotolia.com
Achieve the front lighting effect by positioning yourself and your camera so that the sun or other main source of light is behind you or "over the shoulder." Lighting your subjects in this manner creates flat images due to the lack of shadows cast by direct lighting. However, the sheer amount of information contained in a front lit image gives it usability in certain situations. Architectural photographers often use front lighting to expose all the details of a building. Wildlife photographers also utilize the "over the shoulder" lighting technique to capture images of animals without obscuring areas in shadow. Two subjects exist that you will want to avoid lighting in this over-the-shoulder method: portraits and landscapes. - 2
Side lighting your subjects creates rich shadow areas that result in the illusion of three dimensions.windmill side view image by willem169 from Fotolia.com
Use a side lighting technique by taking outdoor photos at dusk or dawn when the sun hangs low in the sky. You can also use any other existing light that originates from a wall, desk lamp, or other surface that sits parallel to your subject. Using side lighting serves to separate your subject from the background by creating the illusion of three dimensions. The strong directional lighting casts shadows that give your image texture and shape. - 3
Back lighting creates dynamic shots but beware of lens flares.back lit beach grass image by Thomas Voss from Fotolia.com
Placing the sun or other source of light behind your subject gives you the backlighting effect. Depending on the strength of the light source, this may result in your subject having a glow around it or even creating a silhouette of the subject. While this lighting effect creates stunning results, working with light in front of your lens can prove challenging. Potential problems using backlighting include lens flare, over or underexposure, and high contrast. Using a lens shade or even shading the lens with your hand will help you avoid lens flare, while the use of a fill-in flash can sometimes rectify exposure or contrast issues. - 4
Soft light wraps around your subject creating fewer shadows.soft portrait image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com
Take your camera outside on bright but overcast days to make use of soft natural lighting. This light creates a subject-wrapping effect since the diffused light comes from all directions. Similar to front lighting but without the harshness, soft lit subjects can appear almost ethereal. Plant and flower photography benefit greatly from this type of lighting.
