Using Light and Shadow Like a Painter in Your Photography
Using Light and Shadow Like a Painter in Your Photography
Photography and painting share one fundamental truth: light is everything. Painters master the use of light and shadow to create depth, emotion, and atmosphere. Photographers, too, can harness this power - not just to capture what they see, but to transform it into art. By studying the painter’s approach to light and shadow, photographers can dramatically improve the impact of their images.
In this post, we’ll explore how to “see” like a painter, how to use light and shadow deliberately, and how to make your photography more expressive and dimensional.
Why Light and Shadow Matter
In both painting and photography, light isn’t just illumination—it’s the soul of the image. It defines form, sets mood, reveals texture, and creates visual interest. Shadow, the counterpart to light, is equally important. Without it, light becomes flat and lifeless.
Painters have long known this. Think of Caravaggio’s dramatic chiaroscuro, or the soft, diffused lighting of Vermeer’s interiors. Their work teaches us that light isn’t just functional - it’s emotional, symbolic, and storytelling.
As a photographer, when you start thinking about light and shadow not just technically but artistically, your images will take on new depth.
Step 1: Observe Like a Painter
Before you even pick up your camera, take time to study how light falls in the world around you. Painters often spend hours simply observing light. Try doing the same:
Watch natural light throughout the day. Notice how early morning light is cool and soft, while golden hour creates warmth and long shadows. Noon light is harsh and direct, while twilight is subtle and blue-toned.
Study how light interacts with surfaces. Observe how light reflects off water, passes through fabric, or wraps around a face. Painters replicate these interactions deliberately - so can you.
Look at paintings. Examine how artists depict shadow and highlight. Where is the light source? Is it hard or soft? What mood does it evoke?
Step 2: Think in Terms of “Modelling” Light
Painters use light to “model” a subject—meaning, to make a two-dimensional surface feel three-dimensional. You can do this in photography by placing your subject in a way that light sculpts the form.
Use directional light. Side light or backlight is far more interesting than flat, front-facing light. Side lighting brings out texture and depth - think of a portrait with one side lit and the other fading into shadow.
Avoid overexposure. Painters rarely use pure white. In your photography, try not to blow out highlights; keep detail in the brightest areas for a more painterly feel.
Embrace shadows. Don’t fear darkness. Rich, deep shadows add drama and mystery—qualities painters often exploit.
Step 3: Master the Different Types of Light
Just like painters choose different brushes, photographers can “choose” different types of light:
1. Soft Light
Think of an overcast day, a window with sheer curtains, or the golden hour.
Soft light wraps around subjects, minimizing harsh shadows.
Use it for intimate, gentle moods - like portraits or still life.
2. Hard Light
Think of midday sun or a bare bulb.
Hard light creates sharp, defined shadows - great for drama and texture.
Use it when you want contrast, boldness, and graphic shapes.
3. Backlighting
The light comes from behind the subject.
Painters use this to create silhouettes or glowing edges (called rim light).
In photography, it can add a dreamlike or ethereal quality.
4. Rembrandt Lighting
Named after the Dutch master.
One side of the face is lit, while the other side has a small triangle of light under the eye.
Classic, timeless, and flattering—often used in portraiture.
Step 4: Use Shadow as a Compositional Tool
In painting, shadows often direct the eye as much as light does. The same applies in photography.
Use shadows to frame your subject. A dark foreground can lead the eye into the lit part of the image.
Look for interesting shadow shapes. Cast shadows from windows, leaves, or architecture can become powerful design elements.
Don’t over-light everything. Let some parts fall into darkness. Suggest rather than reveal.
Step 5: Post-Process Like a Painter
Painters build their images layer by layer—photographers can do this too in post-processing.
Dodge and Burn. Lighten (dodge) or darken (burn) specific areas to guide the viewer’s attention.
Control contrast. Increase local contrast where you want texture or depth; reduce it for softness.
Adjust colour temperature. Use warm tones for sunlight, cool tones for shade - just like painters mixing their palette.
Desaturate strategically. Muted colours often feel more painterly than hyper-saturated images.
Examples & Exercises to Try
1. The Classic Window Portrait
Place your subject near a window with light coming from the side. Use a reflector (or a white wall) on the opposite side to soften shadows. Observe how the light models the face.
2. Shadow Study
At golden hour, photograph simple objects with strong shadows—bottles, flowers, hands. Focus on the interplay between shape and shadow.
3. One Light Challenge
Use a single artificial light (lamp, flashlight, or soft box) in a dark room. Move it around your subject to study how the angle affects the mood and shape.
4. Recreate a Painting
Choose a painting you love and try to recreate its lighting setup in a photograph. This will teach you more than any technical guide ever could.
Conclusion: Painting with Light Through the Lens
Painters and photographers are, at their core, storytellers of light. Whether you work with brush or shutter, understanding how light and shadow shape emotion and form is essential. By adopting a painter’s mindset, you’ll move from simply taking photos to crafting visual experiences that resonate on a deeper level.
Next time you step behind the lens, don’t just look at what you’re photographing—look at how the light falls, how shadows gather, and how you can use them to create something timeless.