National Geographic was probably the first place I found truly inspiring photography as a kid: I was particularly drawn to both the color and the lighting of the images. In this great tutorial, Bob Holmes, a National Geographic shooter, walks us through his philosophy and thought process when reading the light in a scene.

Bob Holmes is a highly experienced travel photographer, and by virtue of that profession, he’s not always afforded the luxury of having the sort of light he might desire. In this lesson, he offers a great set of tips on how to photograph most anyone in light that is not only flattering to the subject, but interesting. He also offers some of the best advice I’ve heard in quite a while, as I think it’s easy to forget this:

You should be aware of what your camera is capable of doing… Your eyes compensate… Cameras are literal.

Altogether, I really appreciated watching him talk through his process and how he thought about light not just to give a technically sound photograph, but as something deeply tied to the thematic arc of his work. To see more of Holmes’ photography, be sure to check out his website and follow him on Instagram.