Аннотация:this paper aims to reveal the distinctive features of image composition and chiaroscuro lighting in the first color photographs by S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that it is the first work to examine the existing theories of aesthetic perception in photography as a separate type of fine art while looking at how S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky composed his first color photographs using light and shadow. Findings show that the harmonious interaction of light and shadow aids the correct color reproduction of the image. In many photographs by S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky, one can thus see that variation in the placement of light sources affects the quality of the image. Multiple sources of light help to hide certain details and make the image more complex in terms of composition. This is their value in terms of the characteristics of the optimal choice of the best composition, as well as the development of skills of aesthetic understanding of the importance of the correct formation of light and shadow in photography.