Light is everything when it comes to our photos. It can completely change the mood and overall look. Using something as simple as your phone's flashlight can make a big impact.

The moral of my how-to story is simply to use what is on hand. For the prompt photo, I used my phone’s flashlight as the light source. I angled it toward the shell, which was sitting on the glass cooktop, with the overhead lights off. I set my camera on the counter, in aperture priority mode (f4), and zoomed in. That’s it.

Using directional light will help details pop and allow you to control the shadows. If you want it softer, move the light back a little. If you want it bold and dramatic, bring it closer. Play around - small changes can make a big difference.