Getting Awesome Light in Camera .

The Light is What Matters.

I was sitting in the studio working away this week when I peeked out my window and saw this amazing light. Watch what was happening. I could not help but grab a camera and go out to chat about it.

While this was off the cuff and I didn’t have any models or scenes ready, the light is what matters. Any scenario can be amazing if we use it well, but some light is just magical and if we plan our sessions to work with that and understand how to mold it to our needs, anything can happen.

Sometimes the situations are bold like this one. It would have been perfect timing for a portrait session, though I would have had only minutes. Sometimes magical light is more subtle and you really have to think about where it’s reflecting, how the subject and camera is positioned and how we expose. I’ve learned this. If I just stop, breathe and take in the scene before I make the image, my perception changes and I see things I would have otherwise missed. Slow down.

Having a fundamental understanding of light itself is the foundation for our artistry. If you have not yes watched the EXposed workshop I highly suggest you take a look. It will change your perspective. From now on, each time you see unique light take a moment out of your mind to think about what the light is doing, how it plays off objects, faces, landscapes and shapes.

Once we know the light, we control the light. — Gav

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About the Author

Glad you're here.

I'm from WA State USA and started studying photography in 97. I started work as a pro (using that word loosely because I sucked) using film at age 16. I learned fast but was not as easy to find training then. Sometimes I beat my head against the wall until I figured stuff out.

As digital dawned I went all in and got to study with masters like Ken Whitmire. In 09 I founded the Pro Photo Show podcast. I started promoting tone-focused editing. When Lightroom arrived, I started developing tools to make editing and workflow better.

20 years of study and photography around the country earned me a Master of Photography (M.Photog) from PPA. I got to see my workshops and tools featured in publications across the industry. Once I even won the prestigious HotOne award for my "EXposed" light and tone workshop.

Wanting something calmer, I moved to Mexico in 2017. It's a land of magical light. I'm here now exploring light and trying to master my weak areas. I make videos of that for my Youtube channel, sharing what I learn. I hope you'll stick around and be part of Light Hunters Tribe... Gavin

Gavin Seim

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