Note: This is the first of four articles exploring four different kinds of natural light you can use in your photography.

Ever been told not to shoot into the light? Forget it.

Backlighting is one of those effects that looks difficult and expensive but isn’t all that tough to achieve. With a little knowledge even a budget-bound beginner is able to make use of this cool effect.

Here’s the quick version: A backlit image is an image in which a light source is behind the main subject. This offers the potential for several interesting effects. If the back light is weak and other light sources are strong, the back light simply acts as a hair light or a rim light to separate the subject from its background. If the back light is the primary light in an image, it can be so strong that the subject becomes just a silhouette.

See exactly how it all works after the jump.

Photo by Pensiero on Flickr.

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Photo originally uploaded by gerome

Ever see that informercial with the annoying catchphrase “Set It and Forget It”? Sometimes the same principle applies in photography.

With some photos, you just don’t want to over-complicate things. This photo is a perfect example of a situation in which it’s easy to get a great shot without a lot of tinkering around. See how after the jump.

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Lupe Fiasco at Northwestern University

Concert photography is one of the most fun assignments a photographer can get. It’s the best seat in the house, and you get to document it all. But with the wrong equipment or the wrong approach, bad photos can spoil your night.

There’s no doubt that concert photography is a difficult assignment to shoot. It’s dark, the stage lighting is constantly changing, and the band is always in motion. It’s enough to drive even the most seasoned professional batty.

While I can’t profess to be an expert at all things concert, I have had to shoot shows on occasion. Here’s how I get through the night and get shots that work.

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I tend to think that aperture is one of the most neglected tools by beginner digital photographers. Professionals and hobbyist swear by it, but their enthusiasm hasn’t necessarily carried over to the snapshot crowd.

Maybe this is because aperture isn’t necessarily as intuitive as shutter speed. Everyone understands what 1/800s means, but it’s harder to quantify exactly what f/2.8 means. Then there’s the whole business with larger f/numbers equating to smaller apertures…it’s just a mess.

But if you are a beginner, don’t let that scare you away. Aperture is a great tool for making a statement in your images. Here’s an introduction to a range I’ve dubbed “isolation apertures” that will help your images say more.

Image originally uploaded by vonvonvon.

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I was sitting and trying to think how many snapshot photos I’ve taken during my life. You know, those quick photos of the dog in the backyard, the family on vacation — all those daily events we feel the need to preserve into perpetuity. They add up pretty quickly.

As I was thinking about this, I came to a more startling realization. Despite the fact that they fill my hard drive, clog my Flickr account and fill every photo album I own, I can’t think of one time that I’ve sat down and decided to go through my massive snapshot collection. Why? Because the vast majority of them suck.

I don’t think I’m alone. While I’ll spend hours thinking about how to set up a cool macro shot or get a better angle for a photo for the paper, I never spend much time thinking about getting better snapshots. Most photographers are the same way. It’s too easy just to set the camera to automatic mode and click the shutter, producing a mediocre photo that’ll never be seen again.

I think that’s kind of sad. There are a lot of easy ways to take better snapshots that maybe we just tend to forget. Here are nine common-sense methods to try.

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