Lighting is an important aspect of photography that determines the quality and mood of photographs. There are several types of lighting including natural light from the sun or moon, artificial light from studio lights or flashes, ambient light that already exists in a scene, back lighting from behind the subject, directional or side lighting from the side, diffused or soft light that is scattered, and shadows/contrast that enhance depth and interest. The document provides examples of each type and assigns a photography project to capture different lighting techniques.