A window, a reflector and one repeatable photograph
Before you begin: Photography foundations: exposure and histogram. Use a still object and indirect window light.
A lighting recipe names the source, its direction, its apparent size from the subject and the surroundings that reflect or absorb it. Exposure settings alone cannot reproduce the picture. A large nearby window can light the subject from one side; a white board on the other side returns some light into the shadows.
Begin with one source so that every change has an explanation. Keep a simple top-view sketch: window to the subject’s left, camera in front, board to the right. Record distances rather than calling the light merely soft or dramatic.
Worked example & observations
Original recipe: put a matte mug about half a metre from an indirectly lit window. Turn off room lamps. Photograph it with no board, then with a white card 20 cm from its shadow side, then 60 cm away. Keep camera position, exposure and white balance fixed. Compare the shadow side and the transition around the mug; judge the visible result rather than assuming a precise lighting ratio.
Your turn
The second frame is brighter everywhere because the camera used automatic exposure. Can you attribute the whole difference to the board? How should you repeat it?
Show answer and reasoning
No. Metering and reflected fill both changed. Lock exposure or use manual settings and repeat the series in stable daylight. Now the shadow-side change is easier to attribute to the board.
Watch for: Clouds change window light. Repeat a baseline frame at the end and note if it differs. Avoid mixing room lighting with daylight until you can identify each source.
Published and planned
Published: this starter lesson, worked example and exercise with an answer.
Planned: Photographed recipe results, drawn lighting diagrams and flash-specific lessons.
Validation: source review and mathematical checks where applicable. Photography captures, audio listening and device workflows have not been performed for these lessons. Synthetic cases are labelled; no personal media or field observations are implied.
References
Original AUWEN teaching and examples. Sources reviewed 14 September 2026.
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