I think I’ve written more posts where the light is the main theme than any other subject matter, and I’ve had a post come out every five days for nine years; that’s a lot of posts!
In my online classes with the BPSOP, and in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around the planet, I’m constantly talking about the importance of light and the fact that it’s so fleeting you need to be ready for it when it comes and then when it goes…be ready if and when it comes back; sometimes in mere seconds.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen one of my fellow photographers start shooting without any regard as to what’s happening with the light. In my opinion, this is definitely not in their best interest, and the consequence comes in the form of a dull, gray, and flat photo; the exception is if that’s what was important in creating some kind of mood.
In conjunction with the Santa Fe Workshops I was conducting a workshop in Bayamo, Cuba. We were sitting around the bar in the pool area enjoying a Mojito; we were sitting there because it had been raining and we were just waiting for it to stop. While we were waiting I noticed the sun break out for a few seconds then go back behind the dark clouds. I immediately grabbed my camera and thought about a great post I could write (once again) about the light and how relevant it is in creating visually interesting images.
Having said that, I have submitted two photos that were taken in the space of about a minute. You won’t find these on my website, in a gallery, or in a museum but that was not the intent.
The intent is to demonstrate how powerful the addition of light can be in your composition, and the possibility of making just about anything in the way of subject matter look good.
I shot the pool first with really bad light as the man in the middle swam (btw, the pool is not as big as it looks since I had on a 17-40mm lens) away from me. He turned and began swimming towards me and I shot again when the sun broke out.
Pull the slider from left to right so you can see the diference. As you can see, if one picture really is worth a thousand words, then what’s two pictures worth?
So my fellow photographers, the next time you’re shooting and the light isn’t great, look around you to see if the conditions will be changing anytime soon. If you see that they might, stick around!!!
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my 2018 workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
In conjunction with The Santa Fe Workshops, on October 2nd I’ll be leading a group in San Miguel de Allende. A beautiful oasis and artist colony, and the entire city is a UNESCO site.
Come join me for a week of fun and photography…what could be better?
JoeB
