There are plenty of occasions when we’ve taken a photo that is unique, personal and very expressive of a moment, a person, a place, an event. Technical quality in these situations frequently goes out the window. Author of Capturing Mood, Ambience & Dramatic Effects , Joseph Meehan, calls these images “keepers” or “just great photographs.” Beginning at the end of the process he unpicks the subject and explains how you can shoot that great picture yet still give it some degree of polish and a technical edge. The first point he makes is “to interpret rather than just record a subject …” But t’ain’t easy! A useful chapter deals with the qualities of light: how to deal with colour casts; the effect of varying colour balance throughout the day … and how to deal with the wide variations of artificial light sources: fluoros, tungsten, sodium lamps etc. Other topics: contrast; the role of High Dynamic Range; the direction and intensity of light; ISO speeds; aperture and shutter settings.

Capturing Mood, Ambience & Dramatic Effects [Book Review]