PPA's 12 Elements of a Merit Image: Lighting

Posted by WPPAweb on Sep. 8, 2025  /  12 Elements  /  Subscribe 0

12 Elements of a Merit Image: Lighting

The Professional Photographers of America’s (PPA) 12 Elements of a Merit Image define what separates a strong photograph from a truly professional, competition-ready one. These elements are used to evaluate images submitted to the PPA’s International Photographic Competition, and understanding them can help photographers grow in both vision and technical skill.

According to the PPA website:

"What does it take to get your photograph into the prestigious Imaging Excellence Collection (formerly Loan Collection)? Images in PPA’s International Photographic Competition are judged on 12 criteria. Master these and you win not only PPA merits but a spot in the Imaging Excellence Collection exhibit."

In this blog series, we’re exploring each of those 12 elements in depth. This time, we’re examining Lighting, one of the most powerful tools in a photographer’s creative arsenal.

Again, from PPA:

"The image demonstrates excellence in the use and control of light, whether natural or additive. Light informs dimensions and shape, sets tone and mood, and enhances the image."

Let's check out some lighting tips and techniques to help improve your photography.

(photo courtesy of Sirui)

What is Lighting?

Lighting is foundational to photography. It literally means “drawing with light.” In the context of a merit image, it’s not enough for a subject to be well-lit, though. The lighting must be intentional. Great lighting sets the tone, reveals form and texture, enhances composition, and directs the viewer’s eye. It helps elevate a technically sound image into something artful and emotionally resonant.

Whether it’s natural or artificial, soft or hard, dramatic or subtle, lighting tells part of the story. A well-lit image supports the photographer’s vision and allows the subject to shine. When used effectively, light not only illuminates the subject, it adds depth, dimension, and impact.

(example of Rembrandt lighting)

Examples of Lighting in Photography

Lighting can be manipulated in endless ways, but some foundational techniques help photographers create professional-quality images consistently. These methods can be found across all genres, from portrait and product work to landscapes and fine art.

Here are a few widely used lighting approaches that support merit-worthy photography:

• Rembrandt or Loop Lighting: Common in portraiture, these techniques add shape and character by creating natural shadows that contour the face.

• Backlighting: When placed behind the subject, light can create silhouettes, rim lighting, or an ethereal glow, adding separation and mood.

• Side Lighting: Casting light from the side emphasizes texture, depth, and form. It’s especially effective for revealing fine detail.

• Low-Key and High-Key Lighting: Low-key lighting focuses on shadows and contrast for a dramatic, moody effect. High-key lighting, on the other hand, uses brightness and minimal shadow to create a light, airy feeling.

• Natural Light vs. Artificial Light: Mastery of both helps photographers adapt to any situation and choose the best light source for the mood or message.

• Light Modifiers: Tools like diffusers, reflectors, and snoots allow precise control of the quality and direction of light, helping shape the scene intentionally.

These techniques aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each method has strengths depending on the story you’re trying to tell. The goal is to use lighting deliberately to serve the overall composition and emotional tone.

Developing Mastery of Lighting

Learning to manipulate light takes time and intentional practice. Photographers must train their eye to observe how different lighting setups influence a subject and affect the viewer’s experience. True mastery comes from both control and adaptability, knowing how to shape light when you can, and how to work with it when you can’t.

Here are some key strategies for improving lighting technique:

• Study Classical Art and Cinema: Painters like Vermeer and filmmakers like Gordon Willis used light to evoke emotion and focus attention. Their work is a masterclass in lighting decisions.

• Practice in Varied Conditions: Photographing in morning light, harsh midday sun, golden hour, or artificial studio lighting will teach you how light behaves, and how to harness it.

• Use a Light Meter: In studio or controlled environments, a light meter helps ensure proper exposure and consistent lighting ratios.

• Experiment with Light Direction and Distance: Shifting the placement or proximity of your light source can dramatically change the look and feel of an image.

• Control the Shadows: Shadows are as important as highlights. Learn how to soften or intensify them to support the message of the photo.

Every great photographer understands how to “see” light. Whether you’re using flash, strobes, window light, or the sun, your choices influence everything from mood and clarity to texture and story. The more you work with light, the more intuitive it becomes.

(photo courtesy of Snapbar)

For Powerful Lighting, Consider:

Lighting can either clarify or confuse, dramatize or dull. It’s a critical element in a merit image, and one that judges often weigh heavily.

Use this checklist as a reminder of what to evaluate when setting up or editing an image:

• Direction – Where is the light coming from, and how does it shape the subject?

• Quality – Is the light soft or hard? Diffused or direct?

• Color Temperature – Is the warmth or coolness of the light consistent with your intended mood?

• Control – Are you actively shaping and managing the light, or simply accepting what's available?

• Balance – How do the highlights and shadows interact? Is either overwhelming the image?

Effective lighting adds clarity, beauty, and emotional power. By learning to control this element deliberately, photographers can elevate even simple compositions into standout, merit-worthy images. Like any language, light takes time to master, but once it clicks, it becomes second nature.

Catch up on the other 12 Elements with our blog series: Creativity -- Technical Excellence -- Impact -- Style -- Composition -- Presentation -- Color Balance -- Center of Interest

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