Underground canal
Children feeding a baby
Snow-covered canyons
a cowboy
Hotel shaped like a pyramid
Aerial view of a snowy park
Three girls smiling
Mountain reflection
Lionesses in afternoon sunlight
Tribesman
1 of 10
Canal St. Martin, ParisLight is the single most important element in photography. Without light, both we and our cameras are blind. But light is so much more than a tool to physically record. This simple photograph by Gordon Gahan shows the power of light to ignite even the most mundane scene—a concrete tunnel—and render it beautifully. —Annie GriffithsPhoto Tip: When exposing for beams of light, it is best to underexpose the rest of the scene. It will add drama and will keep a little detail in the light beams themselves.Enjoy more photos and buy the book Simply Beautiful Photographs »
Photograph by Gordon Gahan, National Geographic

Simply Beautiful Photos: Light

See pictures and get photo tips from National Geographic’s book Simply Beautiful Photographs.

Go Further