The best way to improve your photography today, no matter what your experience level, is to see the light. Sometimes, when we concentrate so hard on framing a subject within a background, we forget to see the light within the scene. You might instantly improve your shot by changing your angle to improve the quality of light.

I never learned to draw, but I can tell you exactly when I learned to see the light as a painter might. I was taking a class called Electronic Cinematography at the Maine Photographic Workshops and for the first time, I was taught how to see light. I started looking at people in a completely different way. I saw backlights, soft fill light bounced from a tablecloth, nose shadows, and reflections. It was as though I had been given a new sense or an upgrade on my eyeballs.My challenge to you is to spend the week looking at light as it falls on people. If you’re zoning out at work, look at the light. What’s it doing? What are the light sources? What color is the light? How could you duplicate it if you were lighting this scene? Do this throughout the coming weeks and I guarantee your photographs will improve.