Light can strike a subject in any of three basic directions. By understanding these, you'll reduce your number of failed shots — and you'll learn to bring out the beauty of light in your photos. The light is coming from behind the camera, so it strikes the subject from the front. This is the most basic and foolproof way to orient yourself when shooting. It's also the best way to capture a beautiful blue sky in the background. The light strikes the subject at an angle from the side. Sidelight emphasizes light and shade, bringing out a three-dimensional look to subjects. It does however require a little knowledge and experience to control the highlights and shadows produced by sidelight. The light is coming from behind the subject — in other words, directly toward the camera. Shooting in this situation will normally reduce the subject to a shadow. The easiest technique is to turn on your flash. This will fill in the shadows, assuring that your subject stands out against the beautiful light in the background.