Feeling light is something that must be learned.
Watch a violinist . . . he feels the tones he is about to produce and feels the effect the sound will have before actually hearing it. I say we must feel the light! It is sad to meet so many “photographers”, who look at me in bewilderment: What does it mean to “feel the light?!?”.
Fact is that viewers do subconsciously get a feel from light and definitely glean information about and develop opinions on the subject, from the lighting. But the viewer does not have a trained eye, and does not realize that these feelings are in fact due to the light.
Bright, and light are not the same thing. Light involves direction, contrast, angle, quality and color as well as intensity. Intensity is the least significant factor. That is brightness. First it has to be able to do what the artist wants. And most do not feel the light, so they cannot know what it is really doing. Most important is the direction of light and how that light relates to other light. This involves lighting ratios and fill/main contrast issues. Looking up such terms will no doubt lead to a text book understanding of related techniques at best. But to be an artist, to do great photography, requires such things being second nature. And must involve a sensitivity to the fine nuances that are far more delicate and involved than one gets from a textbook understanding.
Your eyes do not produce light! Since the beginning of time, Man has seen a three dimensional world illuminated by an external light source. So what is this business of using the light on your camera?!?
This tech talk is for you – reader. I can go in far greater depth on this topic. But first please tell me that you would like to hear more. Please contact me with any questions. I welcome the dialogue we might have.