Learning Light

Leonardo once wrote that "shadow is the means by which bodies display their form." Mastering light isn’t just technical — it’s philosophical. It’s understanding that light sculpts, reveals, and directs emotion.

Learning light means learning how to see. Start with the basics: direction (side, front, back), quality (soft vs. hard), and color temperature. Then move into narrative: how does light make your subject feel?

Use Rembrandt lighting for drama, window light for softness, harsh mid-day sun for raw honesty. Leonardo's approach was observational: light is not static. It changes with mood, space, and time. As a photographer, your job is to dance with it, not fight it.