Why There Is No Such Thing As 'Bad' Light

Howzit everyone! Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend.

I recently spoke with some people from the TPE community, and we discussed the idea of light in our photos. How people often complain about 'Bad' light, or fantasise about 'Great' light.

For a long time, I felt trapped by those concepts - being told, for example, never to take a photo in the harsh midday African sun.

The truth is, there isn't good or bad light, but there are good and bad ways to shoot in it.

I'd like to share with you today a small concept that can help demystify the process of truly seeing light and utilising it, rather than fighting against it.

The Main Frame:

Active vs Passive Light (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Most of us start photography thinking subjects make the picture: a face, a building, a tree, a cat.
But again and again, it’s the light that actually does the heavy lifting.

One way to make this easier to see is to divide light into two roles:

Active light
Passive light

What is active light?

Active light is when the photograph is really about the light.

If you turned the light off, or changed it completely, the picture simply wouldn’t work.

Think of:

A shaft of light cutting through a dark doorway
Sunlight striping a wall through blinds
Backlight turning someone into a glowing silhouette
A beam of light catching dust, rain or spray

In those images, the subject (a door, a wall, a person) is just a stage.
The light itself is the main performer.

A simple test:

If you removed the light effect, would the image still be interesting?
If the answer is “not really”, the light is playing an active role.

What is passive light?

Passive light is when the light is just quietly doing its job.

It’s there to let you see the subject, but it’s not asking for attention.

Think of:

An evenly lit doorway where what you notice is the wood, texture and colour
A portrait in soft window light where the expression is what really matters
A street scene where you first see the people, shapes and story, not the light

The light is still important (without it you have no photo), but:

It’s more like the stage crew than the star of the show.

A test for passive light:

When you first look at the image, do you notice the subject, shapes or story before you notice the light itself?
If yes, the light is probably playing a passive supporting role.

Why this distinction is useful

This isn’t about creating a new rule.
It’s simply a way to train your eye.

Before you raise the camera, try asking:

Is the light active or passive here?
- Is the photo about the light?
- Or is the light just helping me show something else?
If the light is active…
- How can I compose the image so the light is clearly the “main character”?
- Can I simplify the scene so the light effect is what you feel first?
If the light is passive…
- What is the real subject? Expression? Gesture? Shape?
- How can I use this calm, supportive light to tell that story clearly?

A little exercise for the week

Next time you’re out with your camera (or even just walking to the shops):

Look for one scene where the light is active
– a beam, a reflection, a strong shadow pattern – and make a photograph about that light.
Then find one scene where the light is passive
– soft, even illumination – and make a photograph where the subject or moment is the star, and the light simply supports it.

Label them “Active” and “Passive” when you import them.

Do this a few times, and you’ll find yourself automatically noticing what the light is doing in your images, not just what you’re pointing the camera at.

And once you can see that, light stops being something to “fight” or “fix” —
it becomes something you can collaborate with.

This is taken from the 'Loving Light ' course, which is one of many courses that TPE Tribe members have access to.

As Christmas is coming up, I thought it would be nice to share the whole course with you below.

Inspiring Me This Week:

Mark Seymour
https://www.markseymourphotography.co.uk/

I've known Mark for about a decade now, and he is one of the most talented and knowledgeable photographers I've ever met.

His street photography in India and Cuba is simply amazing,
I'm also very pleased to say he'll be talking with the TPE Tribe this coming Wednesday, 10th December.

Inside the Tribe:

Each Monday, I give feedback on the Tribe Members' work. You can check out one of the sessions here:
https://www.loom.com/share/551ec269889749b7a6be411649a275f0

Last week, I was stunned by this awesome photo of a laundry basket of all things!

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love the diverse nature of the images everyone is creating in the Tribe.

I hope that no matter where you are in the world, you can start to see light in a simple way, helping you create photographs you are proud of.

Alex

P.S. A quick word about the annual membership bonus: I wanted to let you know that the FREE 30-Minute 1:1 Coaching Calls are going fast—16 spots are already claimed, leaving only 14 left. If you're planning to join for 2026, don't wait until the New Year, as you'll miss out on this personalized call and the significant price increase that hits in January.

➡️ Grab one of the final 14 spots here:https://www.skool.com/thephotographiceye

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