That's right...light. Not a camera or a backdrop. Not props or software. The number one thing that a photographer needs is light. Without light, an image won't appear on a camera. It doesn't matter if you're shooting or film or digitally, the camera is set up to capture light and translate it to a viewable image. Without that light, there is no image.
It's not just light, but the proper application of light. Anyone can hit a chisel against a rock, but it's the exacting application of the chisel that decides whether you have a work of art or a rock that looks a little different. The most basic change that you can make to improve your photography, is to move your light.
The majority of today's cameras come with some kind of built in flash. They come in different sizes and different shapes, but they all have one thing in common: They all are attached to the camera. This means that they all shine light directly at the subject. That means that your subject will be equally lit on all sides. At first glance, this may seem like a good thing, but to turn a "snapshot" into a work of art you have to manipulate light to create drama. Drama is created with shadows (which creates the illusion of a 3rd dimension in your pictures). With an on-camera flash, you will never get shadows on your subject.
So what's the solution? Well, if you have a flash that isn't built in, you can always add one of those cool boxes on the front. That will make a difference, right? Wrong. Diffusers do just that...they diffuse. They soften the light that is hitting your subject (which is often a good thing) but the light is still aimed directly at the subject. So you get softer light, but you still have no shadows.
How about turning your flash around backwards and aiming it at the ceiling. That will make a difference, right? Wrong. Granted, aiming the flash at the ceiling or the wall behind you will help to diffuse the light. Just as with the on-camera diffuser, this can be a good thing, but the light is still aimed directly at the subject. As mentioned before, the softness of light has nothing to do with the direction of light.
So how do you take your photography to the next level? Simple: Indirect light coming form the side. So how do you accomplish that? There are a variety of ways to accomplish indirect side light. The easiest (and cheapest) way to do this is to turn you flash to the side (not behind you) and bounce it off of a wall. While this method doesn't require any additional equipment, it does require a wall to bounce the light off of. If you don't have a wall, then you're out of luck.
The other main option (and the most versatile) is to utilize a flash that isn't on your camera. Cons: This method requires additional equipment or personnel. You will need a stand to put your flash on (or someone to hold it) and some kind of a remote triggering system. The best known of these are Radio Popper and Pocket Wizard. However, there are radio triggers that are far less expensive (just be prepared for some frustration as they are less reliable and a lot more finicky). Pros: What you can do with the light is limitless. You can put the light to the side of your subject, behind your subject, above your subject, etc, etc, etc. This will create the dramatic shadows that will bring your pictures to life.
Have fun wielding the power of indirect light!!
