2020 Photo Challenge #22

May’s theme / technique: It’s all about the Light

The six visual keys to a great photograph are:

    • Patterns
    • Texture
    • Lines
    • Light
    • Depth of field
    • Space

Being Creative with light. Photography literally means writing with light which immediately tells you how important lighting is. And with light comes shadows. Another important feature. An appreciation of light is crucial to making great photographs.

The qualities of light that affect a photograph are:

    1. brightness of light
      this is fairly easy to understand; it is the intensity of light.
    2. lighting contrasts
      is the difference between highlights and shadows in a scene
    3. specular light
      or hard light can be explained by thinking how sunlight strikes an object on a bright and clear day. One side will be lit up, the other in dark shadow.
    4. diffused light
      on the other hand when it is an overcast day the sun lights the clouds and they become the source of light. Light wraps itself around the subject and reflects light into the shadows. The light is soft or diffused.
    5. direction of light
      creating depth in photographs relies on knowing the source of the light. Front light comes from behind the camera and strikes the front of the scene, usually producing a 2-dimensional image. Use bold colours or a strong colour contrast to replace the lack of shadows. Sidelight is most apparent when the sun is low and shadows are long separating foreground from the background and giving a 3-dimensional look. Backlight comes from behind the subject and can create depth and shape. If a subject is transparent then backlighting is a way to make them glow.
    6. colour of light
      Sometimes you can actually see the colour of light. The so-called ‘magic hours’ before sunrise or after sunset can produce coloured air which can be pink or orange or golden. Everything seems to change colour. There is also the question of white balance (WB). A setting on your camera that makes things that are supposed to be white really look white. This setting can be changed either in the camera, or if you shoot in RAW, in processing.

As I have previously said, I am not an expert in the technicalities of photography. I tend to use auto settings most of the time. I have altered the white balance occasionally when it has been cloudy or when photographing snow, to prevent that blueness you often get. But by all means experiment to see what difference the presets in your camera make.

This month's final assignment - Experiment in different weather conditions such as mist or rain, OR take a photograph indoors such as a still life or light entering a room streaming through a window OR experiment in capturing the colour of light.

(1) Light streaming through this church window creates a quiet tranquil place in which to contemplate.

(2) Photographs taken during the Magic Hours – capturing the colour of light

(a) Blue light – evening in St Ives, facing north – early July around 8 pm

(b) Pink light – dawn facing west – April 6 am

(3) A Misty Morning

If you would like to join in with the 2020 photo challenge then please take a look at my 2020 Photo Challenge page. No complicated rules, just a camera required 🙂

    • Create your own post with some information about how you composed the shot.
    • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
    • Add the tag #2020PhotoChallenge so everyone can find your entry easily in the WP Reader
    • Get your post(s) in by the end of the week, as the new theme begins next Sunday about Depth of Field

Another month of fabulous photographs. Thanks to everyone who joined me this month with your versions of light. I know some of the assignments this month weren’t easy, but sometimes it is good to step out of one’s comfort zone. I am finding some tasks more challenging myself! But it is worth remembering that an appreciation of light is crucial to making great photographs.

As always, please click on the links in the comment section to visit some very talented photographers. 

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

59 thoughts on “2020 Photo Challenge #22”

  1. Ah, well, I went out yesterday evening for a long walk – the first time I’ve done this in a while. I might have a shot or two to use – let’s see … I like all your shots, perhaps particularly the misty morning. It’s been a while since we’ve seen one of them!

    1. We had thick fog the other day on a couple of mornings, but it was burnt off by lunchtime. I guess the cold temperature of the sea causes it.

  2. What a marvellous month it has been. I may only have joined in a couple of times, but seeing your creations and others has really got me thinking, so thank you 😀

  3. Pingback: The sea mist effect – The life of B

  4. Carte blanche this week, Jude! Knew you’d be organised with this one. Favourite is the peaceful church scene. At the minute light is streaming in through the patio doors and I should probably grab the camera, but the rug is patterned. Have another lovely vanishing day in that garden of yours! 🙂 🙂 P.S. Great news- Gilly emailed. She’s ok!

    1. Oh good to hear from Gilly! And yes this week is fairly open. Just look for some interesting and unusual light. Next month is rather more challenging…

  5. Great selection for the theme, Jude. Despite the sunny eather, I have not had that much inspiration for taking photos. I think I need to get away from Beetley with the camera.
    Best wishes, Pete. x

    1. I’m struggling with new ideas too Pete, only so many photos of my garden (where at least the flowers do keep changing) and the lanes. I was hoping to do a lot more travelling this year but now that’s going to have to wait until next. Oh, well I am a happy recluse 🙂

        1. Not much has changed in my world Sue. Other than not being able to visit gardens. Many beaches are far too crowded even though there are not supposed to be any tourists. And I actually quite like supermarket shopping with the one way system!

        2. The attitude of some people has to be deplored…how difficult is it to understand social distancing??

        3. I think younger people are just fed up of it all and feel that they are resilient to the illness. They are impatient to get on with their lives.

        4. Well, I get that, but they need to think of the impact their behaviour could have on others

        6. A bit of both…I think there are a LOT of people not taking it seriously, and certainly plenty who don’t give a toss about anyone else..

        7. Cley beach was cluttered with people this weekend although the access to the beach is still closed and the traffic on the coast road was almost back to normal, so busy and worrying.

        8. The sun is definitely bringing people to the coast and with so many not in work it is likely to remain so.

        9. I‘m with you again, Jude. I was in the middle of writing a comment on an other blog post of yours when we suddenly had a power cut. My 🖥 went black and I thought oh noooo! So relieved to find out that whole Cley has got a power cut right now … Will get back to you later when we’re back on again, it’s tiresome to use the phone 📱

  6. Pingback: 2020 Photo Challenge #22 | nowathome

    2. BTW you can still post some ‘light’ images if you like – this continues until next Sunday when the new monthly theme changes.

  9. Pingback: Light in different weather – Geriatri'x' Fotogallery

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