Ben Clay

In this lesson, photographer Ben Clay examines the nature of reflections in a sphere-shaped object and illustrates how a double diffuser lets you create natural-looking shots of highly-reflective objects.

Many photographers prefer to shoot outdoor portraits either at dawn or at dusk to take advantage of the "magic light" that occurs during those times. But what if your schedule (or your subject's schedule) doesn't permit you to shoot then? Can you still capture your subjects in soft, beautiful lighting conditions?

So you want to take dynamic portraits outdoors but you don't want it to be a huge production with a lot of lighting gear, assistants, etc. Not a problem.

When it comes to creating spectacular outdoor portraits, early morning sunlight alone is often not enough to generate the "magic" you envision. That's when you need a little help.

Photographers all know that the most magical time of day to shoot anything outdoors is either dawn or dusk. The sun sits low in the sky, which makes for warm tones, lower contrast and colorful skies and backgrounds.

When you think of sports photography, lighting equipment most likely doesn't enter the picture, does it? After all, most photographers that work with lighting equipment use it to shoot formal portraits or indoor studio work, right? Well, that used to be the case.

For most people, the term "photographic lighting equipment" tends to conjure up visions of complicated setups involving light stands, sand bags, electrical cables, etc. And while lighting can get quite involved, it doesn't always have to be. In fact, it can be downright simple and easy to use.