Hey folks. This weeks topic is “the right light”, which is pretty open to interpretation. What makes the perfect light is different for every subject. The perfect light for a portrait is different than the perfect light for landscapes which is different than the perfect light for a still life, etc. What I focused on was the perfect light to make a shot worth capturing. The right light can transform everyday subjects into something that captures your attention and draws the eye. Obviously, photography doesn’t exist without light and being able to manipulate light to properly expose an image. But sometimes light itself can be your focal point, be it a well-placed sun or backlighting used to create interesting shadows. I went out shooting yesterday with some ideas in mind, but some of the images below are older shots where the light just made it.
Capturing the perfect light can take planning; setting up lights for a portrait shoot or waiting for the golden hour for landscapes. The Photographer’s Ephemeris is a great resource to plan your shots around natural light. Often times, though, it’s just being in the right place at the right time and paying attention.
I took this shot almost exactly a year ago, and when looking through my photos it caught my eye. Tony is backlit and the light is perfectly illuminating the snow globe, which is reflected in Tony’s glasses.
Peep that “Stay Focused” shirt
This shot was taken at a wedding I was second-shooter for a few weeks back. The wedding dress was hung in front of a window, backlit to illuminate the shape and texture of the dress.
Note that so far, all of these are black and white shots. Black and white helps to focus your gaze, highlighting the shape and texture of your subject and making the light and shadow the focus.
I took this of the shadows on our front porch. I’d taken shots of it before, but without the right light I could only capture the heart cut-outs and the vines, not the repetitive shadows on the ground.
This I took yesterday when I went out looking. I knew that in our local park there were a few trees with yellow leaves still clinging on. I positioned the sun behind it so that the leaves would light up.
And this one I’ve posted before, but it is easily one of my best images. And captured with my cell phone! The light is breaking through the trees, perfectly illuminating a lone trunk and casting it’s shadow off-frame.
Those are my picks for the week, I can’t wait to see all of yours tomorrow. What are your tricks for capturing the best light?
