A quick and easy way to get well lit photographs and take some really nice shots is to take your camera outside 1 hour before sunset or 1 hour after sunrise. The reason is the angle of the sun casts perfect lighting on any subject you may choose outdoors. You can see this in the photo above. The puppy has a nice halo effect as the sunlight outlines the subject. This can help you develop your eye for lighting as well. So get up early, or head out after dinner and see what kinds of shots you can get!
