PLAY WITH SHADOWS

Get creative with light and shadows in this simple still-life setup, by learning how to transform a ring into a love-heart shadow

Photography literally means to P draw with light' - and that's what we're going to do in this fun and easy project which you can do at home. By shining a torch in precisely the right position, we can cast a love-heart shadow from our ring placed on a book. You'll need to experiment with how bright your torch is, whether it's too far away or too close, and the angle at which the shadow is cast until you get the perfect loveheart shape.

The brilliant thing about still-life photography is that you have the luxury of time, so you can lock off your composition and framing by using a sturdy tripod, and then concentrate on perfecting the lighting with the torch until it's absolutely spot-on. Here's how to do it...

PRO SHOT LOVE HEART

When you place a ring in just the right position, you can cast a 'loveheart' shadow onto a book of your choosing with a simple torch. It's super-simple and effective - and best of all, it doesn't require any expensive lights or studio flashes.

PRO ADVICE LIGHTS OUT!

Compose your shot in daylight or with the lights on so that you can see your framing clearly. Dial in all of the settings and focus accurately, then switch off the lights when you're ready. Some blackout blinds can help stop external Light sources leaking in.

TOP TIP USE A BUBBLE LEVEL