Light and dark in photography
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can review the range of ways photographers have been inspired by light and dark in photography.
Key learning points
- Photographers can use light and dark to create mood, atmosphere and contrast in photography.
- We can find symbolic meanings of light and darkness across different cultures and art movements.
- Photographers can experiment with using light and shadow to define form, space and focus in their photographs.
Keywords
Silhouette - a dark shape or outline of something against a lighter background, showing only the outline with no internal detail
Contrast - the difference between elements (like light and dark or rough and smooth) that makes parts of an image stand out
Common misconception
Light and dark are only used to make things look realistic, not to create mood.
This overlooks how contrast can be used to suggest emotion, tension, calm, or drama, not just realism.
Teacher tip
Greater contextual information on the photographer's work can be found in the additional materials. You may wish to alter the imagery to better fit your project themes.
Equipment
Access to the internet or a library of art books. Sketchbook or paper for recording ideas, pencils, pens.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.True or false: Shadows in photography are always caused by an object blocking light.
Q2.Which of the following is the main source of natural light for photography?
Q3.Match the word to its meaning:
The brightest part of an image
The darkest area where light is blocked
The difference between light and dark areas
Q4.True or false: Black-and-white photography cannot show contrast.
Q5.Why might a photographer use strong contrast between light and dark?
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Light and dark in photography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Light and dark in photography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 art and design lessons from the Themes within photography unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.