Many times we yearn for inspiration thousands of kilometers away, we dream of exotic trips, incredible places to unleash our photographic fantasies. And that’s fine, as long as it doesn’t limit you. As long as you are aware that the best scenario is in front of you, that the wonderful thing about photography is turning everyday situations into magical moments full of strength. That is why today, I bring you a series of wonderful images that you can achieve with the light of a window. Because light is magic, your camera is the wand. And speaking of light in photography, I cannot continue without presenting you with this complete mega guide on lighting in photography that we have prepared for you.
Shadows, silhouettes, reflections, stories, portraits, beams of light, in hard light or diffused light, day or night… whatever your mind can imagine, a window with light helps you achieve it. Let’s look at some examples that will surely fill you with ideas and inspiration.
1. With perspective
A few rays of light that slip through the blinds, an attractive perspective, the good eye of its author and a girl with a captivating expression, the ingredients of this photograph as simple as it is powerful.
Claudia Cabrero (@olivalclauca)
2. Low key
When dark tones predominate and you put the light from your window just where you want, be it with a portrait or any other figure, you can awaken emotions in your viewer. You decide, high key or low key, depending on what you want to evoke.
Emilio Chulià (@ejota_seventyeigh)
3. Dust in suspension
Those bright spots, so evocative, so warm and so magical with which to play catch the light can be captured simply with a little dust and light from a window, have you ever tried it? Manuela is given to cinema.
Dust in her pension captured by Manuela Ortega (@maorlan)
4. Creativity
Beyond a beautiful portrait, providing shadows or reflections, the light from a window can give you a game when it comes to telling stories, providing a most creative setting, achieving conceptual or even disturbing photos. Here we have an example of it, experiences of confinement embodied in an image. The author of it is a regular participant in our weekly Photochallenge, which is why some of you will know his name: Peter Vincent.
@petervincent75photo
5. Silhouettes
The choice of silhouette is as classic as it is effective and prolific. The common axis is the silhouette, but this can be so different from one image to another that it offers infinite possibilities. This is just an example.
suggestive silhouettes
6. Shadow games
Observe how the light floods into each room of your house, how far it reaches, what drawings it makes on the wall or on the floor, how it blends with the furniture or bathes the objects. Look for the moment or the place most favored by said light. Games of lines, shadows that stretch to infinity, objects that come to life… You just have to observe with a part of you that is not exactly called eyes, you know what it is, right?
infinite lines
7. Delicacy and intimacy
Another example of how to achieve interesting images with the light from the window. Some sensitivity and imagination come together to create a beautiful and intimate photograph capable of making you feel the heat on your skin.
@lanietadelmoreno
8. Light profiles
Backlighting in a window not only offers silhouettes, it also draws profiles of light. Notice how this reader is situated right in the light area of the window and how it bathes her hair and the outline drawing the profile.
a bath of light
9. Contrasts
This is another clear example of how with the light from the window, imagination and observation, you can achieve striking photographs. In this case the contrasts are the base, color vs. monochrome, or the straight lines of shadows in contrast to the sinuous brushstrokes of watercolor. Look around you, what do you see to stand out? How can the light from the window put it in value?
A wall of contrasts
10. Mystery
Have you ever tried to convey mystery in your images? An idea, darkness, window light and a silhouette with a disturbing posture, is all you need.
windows full of mystery
11. Lightning
And how about you capture the same rays? It is another possibility that windows offer you when the light enters in abundance. A good practice to master exposure while practicing composition.
The sun’s rays stream through the window
12. Different portraits
Portraits don’t just benefit from window lighting at the time of exposure, but with a little creativity and play of shadows, it’s possible to achieve different or dramatic portraits. The shadows under the light of a window are a very juicy resource that you cannot forget.
Different and dramatic portraits
13. And why not at night?
The windows not only let in the sunlight, at night the light changes, but the possibilities continue, the light of the moon, the streetlights, the neon signs… What do you think of doing with it? Here is an example of a portrait, but the only limits to ideas are set by you.
Night lights, why not?
I hope that these images created from the light of a window have given you enough inspiration to make you want to go get your camera.
As you can see, it is not necessary to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers to press the fire button. You have the best images closer than you think. They are within you. You just have to look with the eyes of a child, with that naivety, curiosity and emotion that characterizes them.
Vanesa Royo (@b_mom_)
If these photographs have fulfilled their objective, please share them on your favorite network. Let other people know where to look for your next photo. Thanks and see you soon.