Lighting the world creatively (Feature story)

DINFOS instructor creates a one-of-a-kind workshop for DINFOS students

FORT MEADE, Md. – Daryl Barnes, an instructor at the Defense Information School, has developed a creative lighting workshop that is helping service members elevate their photography skills, enabling them to document and capture military moments with a new level of creativity and technical expertise.

Barnes developed a creative lighting workshop, empowering service members to elevate their photography skills and brings artistic innovation to military visual storytelling. 

When Barnes first arrived at DINFOS in 2006, he served in the Air Force. Unlike most service members, who were mandatorily assigned to the schoolhouse at that time, Barnes applied to become an instructor, a role that would allow him to share his passion for photography with others. After completing his military service in 2009, Barnes returned to DINFOS as a civilian instructor in 2010, bringing years of experience and a deep love for creative photography.

Since then, Barnes has been on a mission to provide DINFOS students with a specialized workshop on creative lighting. His goal? To inspire students to think beyond standard approaches to photography and empower them to use lighting as a storytelling tool.

The creative lighting workshop was designed to help students not only document the world around them but to create meaningful images that resonate with their audience. It’s about taking their technical skills and expanding them into something more artistic and impactful, said Barnes.

The workshop dives deep into advanced lighting techniques, going beyond the typical three-point lighting system by exploring light theory. Barnes teaches students how to manipulate light in the studio to create striking images. He carries examples of past students’ work—photos demonstrating the power of creative lighting, such as artificial moonlight or reflections in water that add a dramatic effect to the imagery.

One of the workshop highlights is Barnes’ emphasis on using simple, accessible tools to achieve impressive results. Pointing to one photo of a woman standing by a window in what looks like an abandoned house, Barnes explained:

  “That window? It’s just a softbox, a $5 window, a curtain, and some smoke,” said Barnes. “It’s about learning to use what’s available to you.”

Barnes was inspired to create this workshop after years of experience in both commercial and military photography. His desire to continue teaching others stems from his early years of learning photography from his cousin, a staff photographer at a newspaper. Those early lessons sparked a passion in Barnes for not just photography but for understanding light—an essential element of his workshop. He learned from a young age how important light is to photography. It’s not just about taking a photo—it’s about crafting an image, he said. 

For the students who attend DINFOS, this workshop offers them more than just technical skills. It allows them to explore their creative side, develop new ways to tell stories visually and make their work more engaging and meaningful.

“The military environment can sometimes make photography feel very task-oriented,” said Barnes. “Through this workshop, I want to give students an opportunity to break from routine and push their creativity. It’s important that they stay inspired and passionate about their work.”

The creative lighting workshop is a valuable addition to DINFOS. By providing students with hands-on experience and innovative techniques, Barnes helps them enhance their capabilities as photographers and communicators for the Department of Defense, Barnes said.

“It gives them inspiration,” said Barnes. “This workshop gives students the chance to see things differently and get inspired to do more with their craft. Learning that you can do something far outside the scope of your daily job only makes your job better because now you see things differently.”

The inspiration from the workshop goes far beyond the classroom, sparking a creative drive in students that carries them through their military careers and into their civilian lives. While the focus may be on studio photography, the lessons learned—about innovation, resourcefulness and artistic expression—equip students with the tools to think outside the box in every aspect of their work. More than just a technical exercise, this workshop helps service members discover their potential as storytellers and creators. It allows them to craft compelling visual narratives that resonate long after they leave the military. The creative spark ignited here continues to fuel their passion, inspiring them to pursue excellence in their craft no matter where their journey takes them.

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