Light, Color, and Composition – January 7, 2026

Light, Color, and Composition

Ended

 Required Book:

“Visually Speaking: Mastering Photography as a Visual Language”; Ted Forbes; Cider Mill Press; ISBN 978-1646434350

(All Books Can be purchased at Brewster Book Store)

Suggested Books:

  1. “Color and Light in Nature”; David K. Lynch & William Livingston; Cambridge University Press; ISBN 978-0521775045
  2. “Fifty Paths to Creative Photography: Style & Technique”; Michael Freeman; Ilex Press; ISBN 978-1781573471
  3. “The Secret Language of Color: Science, Nature, History, Culture, Beauty of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, & Violet”; Joann Eckstut & Arielle Eckstut; Black Dog & Leventhal; ISBN 978-1579129491
  4. “Zen Camera: Creative Awakening with a Daily Practice in Photography”; David Ulrich; Watson-Guptill; ISBN 978-0399580338
  5. “Light – Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting” 6th Edition; Fil Hunter & Steven Biver & Robin Reid; Routledge; ISBN ‎978-0367860271
  6. “Color Science and Digital Imaging: An Essential Guide for Visual Effects Artists, Filmmakers, and Photographers”; Steve Wright; Routledge; ISBN 978-1032773865

Recommended Supplies:

Highly Recommended:

  1. A camera of your choice including a smartphone
  2. Fully charged battery (or portable power bank)
  3. Comfortable walking shoes for short exploratory shooting
  4. A small notebook or sketchbook for visual notes and ideas
  5. Pen or pencil

Optional:

  1. Lenses (macro, wide, or telephoto)
  2. Small tripod or phone stabilizer
  3. Microfiber cloth for cleaning your lens
  4. Simple reflectors (white card, foil, or found objects)
  5. Small collection of personal or found objects for creative staging
  6. Color wheel

January 7, 2026 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm – Light, Color, and Composition – Cape Viewfinders Zoom Presentation

Description: “Color is a pigment of our imagination,” Mark Rea famously said, highlighting how colors only come to life through our perception. Explore the interconnected roles of light and color in photography. Examine the science of light, understand the electromagnetic spectrum, and demonstrate how different types of light (from infrared to visible) impact exposure, mood, and composition. Extend the learning further by investigating how light influences color perception, focusing on how light interacts with various surfaces and materials to shape the way color is captured in a photograph.

The presentation will explore both lighting techniques and color theory. Learn how natural and artificial light affect color and how to manipulate both to create dynamic and compelling images. Explore how color influences mood and composition, uncovering the emotional power of colors, and how to use them intentionally as a photographer. From working with different types of light to experimenting with color grading and filters, a more refined understanding of both lighting and color is gained, elevating personal photography skills to a new level.

Topics Covered:

  1. A Photographer’s Way of Understanding the World
  2. Learning to Look: The Movement of the Eye
  3. Working the Scene
  4. Understanding Light: The Language of Photography
  5. The Spectrum and the Illusion of Color
  6. The Craft of Photographic Lighting
  7. Shadows: The Hidden Subject
  8. When Light Bends: Reflection, Refraction, and Dispersion
  9. Composition: Guiding the Viewer’s Eye
  10. Making Photographs That Breathe
  11. Final Thought: Becoming a Photographer