Baby sits on mother's knee during Christening with finger in its mouth, baby
Exposure triangle
Hand painted image of the sun using water colours
Two ladies pose during a party with wine glasses in their hands
Hand painted image of the sun using water colours
Hand painted image of the sun using water colours

Our eyes view light very differently to our camera! The photo on the left is similar to what I could see with me naked eye. But when I use spot metering to expose for the brightest part of the photo, the camera is forced darken the shadows and create this dramatic result. I have also lightly edited the final photo too!

Our eye can see the details in the but the bright areas are very bright

Our camera can expose for the bright areas and intensify the shadows

Brother and sister playing beside a huge tree
Baby boy sat on the floor in a swimsuit with round sunglasses
Young person walking in headphones, top down view. Overhead woman going, listening to music outdoors, on street. Girl in head phones from above. Flat vector illustration isolated on white background

This is when the light is behind you and falling onto your subject. It means your subject is looking into the light so are more prone to squinting and blinking.

Birdseye view of a DSLR camera
red arrow pointing to the left
yellow sunshine painting
yellow sunshine painting
girl wearing a Harry Potter costume posing in a tree
red arrow pointing to the left

This is when the light is behind your subject and falling onto you. Spot metering is perfect for this direction of light as your subject will be in the shadows.

Young person walking in headphones, top down view. Overhead woman going, listening to music outdoors, on street. Girl in head phones from above. Flat vector illustration isolated on white background
Birdseye view of a DSLR camera
Mother bottle feeding her baby whilst grandma looks over them both
Young person walking in headphones, top down view. Overhead woman going, listening to music outdoors, on street. Girl in head phones from above. Flat vector illustration isolated on white background

When the light is located to YOUR left or right, it's called side light. It doesn't have to fall onto the side of your subject, it just has to be your side!

yellow sunshine painting
red arrow pointing to the left
Birdseye view of a DSLR camera
Two women smiling at a school reunion
yellow sunshine painting

When the light source is directly above you and your subject. You will see the top of their heads is a lot brighter. Midday sun or ceiling lights are a good source of top light.

red arrow pointing to the left
artist drawing of a man on a scooter
Profile view of a DSLR camera
Black and white photo of a little girl sat in the window light reading a book