Light is the key raw ingredient of photography.
Even the word photography comes from the
Greek words “photos” (light) and “graphien”
(to draw, i.e. “to draw widi light”). A well-developed
knowledge of how lighting works and how best to
exploit it accounts, more than any other factor, for the
consistent ability to produce fine photography.



The late Don Blair, a noted portrait photographer
and educator, once said that the photographer who has
trained himself to “see light” could look at any photo-
graph and discern precisely how it was lit. Learning to
see light, understanding how it works, and appreciating
good lighting are at the root of all great photography—
but simply appreciating good light is not enough.