Lesson 38 of 100
Introduction to diffusers
No prior knowledge needed. Keep your camera or phone beside you and try each control or idea as it appears. The aim is understanding, not memorising terminology.
Look at direction before brightness
Ask where the light is coming from. Front light, side light and backlight reveal shape and texture differently. Move yourself or the subject and watch what happens to shadows before changing camera settings.
Hard and soft light
A small apparent light source creates harder-edged shadows. A large apparent source creates softer transitions. A window close to a subject can behave like a large soft source; direct midday sun behaves like a small hard source.
Exposure does not fix bad direction
Making an image brighter does not change where shadows fall. If the light is unhelpful, moving the subject, changing viewpoint, waiting, diffusing or reflecting the light may solve more than an exposure adjustment.