There is No Bad Light
10/2020
For this gallery, we asked you to share photographs captured in direct sun and harsh lighting conditions, along with your thoughts and insights in managing such light. Our congratulations to the twelve photographers selected, from hundreds of entires! We hope that you enjoy the beautiful images below. Thanks to everyone for participating, and make sure to enter our next challenge, using #spm_textures on Instagram through December 31, 2020.
Lily Pads and Water Drops
Image by: Leanne Zeller
Our popular local Arboretum was reopening by reservation only, and I was able to get in during the middle of a bright, sunny July day - not the best lighting situation. I was intrigued by the metallic-like sheen on these lily pads and how it accentuated the water drops while providing an interesting contrast in the bright sunlight. I chose to expose for the highlights, letting the water go black. I was happy with the result and decided that there's no bad light in photography - only opportunities for alternative interpretations.
Spring Abstract
Image by: Kristen Ryan Photography
Our Arboretum finally opened up this month and I was so happy to go spend a morning exploring by myself. A sunny, clear sky day worked beautifully to bring out the colors in this group of trees. I used slow intentional camera movement for a somewhat abstract feel.
Time
Image by: Anna Morgan / Bluetusk Images
Geological time in the igneous rock, the time that water takes to filter through the layers of rock before emerging in a ground spring, the 8 and a half minutes (give or take) that the light takes to reach the earth from the sun, and the fleeting nature of their interactions that give rise to scenes like this.
Aortic Branches
Image by: Logan Hertes
One warm and bright afternoon I ventured out to a local recreational hiking spot for some peak fall conditions. When I spotted this scene I absolutely loved the contrast between the dark branches and the trunk of the tree against the backlit leaves. Timing could not have been more perfect as the leaves were just starting to turn over, creating a beautiful colour pallet of green, yellow, and orange. The only challenge about this shot was the blaring sun beaming directly into my eyes. I blindly set up, and took the shot hoping for the best outcome. When I returned home to review the image I was extremely pleased with the result.
A Tale of Two Seasons
Image by: Patrick Krohn / One-Eyed Dog Studios
The “No Bad Light” challenge from SPM came at the right time for me. I had just set myself the same task to photograph as much as I could using just the harsh, midday, summer sun. I found the best results when using the sun as a spotlight through foliage or even better, as a backlight. In this photo, I liked how the harsh, late morning light backlit the tops of these goldenrods and gave the whole scene this yellowish glow. The shallow DOF made one bush stand out and look a little like they could be faces in a crowd.
Character
Image by: Martha Montiel
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
- Helen Keller
I'd say this lonely tree in the desert definitely has character. It has grown and thrived despite the harsh circumstances of the desert.
Visiting the desert in Dubai earlier this year was an amazing experience. I can't wait to travel the world again and discover more amazing places and see different cultures. The light at the time of this photo was harsh. I was shooting in direct sunlight but I loved the clear and crisp outlines this provided. We all love the sweet light sunset and sunrise provides but it is cool when we can make an image work with very contrasty lights and shadows.
Transcendence in Bee Balm
Image by: Kristin Perry
As a female photographer who often explores nature solo, discernment has required making the majority of my images in full light. These safety measures have taught me to ditch etiquette, travel beyond artistic norms, pay closer attention to the subtle beauty around me, and bask in the glow of Mother Nature's daytime beauty. It's certainly not always the case, but, if you're open and observant, committing this act of photographic discretion has the potential to offer transcendence!
Feminine Mystique
Image by: Nikhil Nagane
Hiking and photographing the sand dunes in harsh midday sun was a challenge, but sand dunes are one of those subjects that work with any kind of light. In this particular image, I intentionally underexposed the scene to completely darken the shadowed parts of the sand dune in the background, thus leading to isolation of brighter sand dunes in the front. Doing this emphasized the curvy outline of the sand dunes and created a rather dramatic composition. Just goes to reiterate my point there is no such thing as bad light.
Lazy Summer Days
Image by: Rebecca Hedges
I love summer days, being outdoors in the sun and wind, but these are often the times when I make the fewest pictures. It can be challenging! Sometimes I find that it’s best to stop looking and just lie in the grass and let the pictures find me!
Moored on a Mountain
Image by: Sherri Cox
I marveled at the peaceful beauty of a boat at rest on the Strynsvatnet Lake in the idyllic village of Hjelle, Norway. I took this photo at midday, when the direct sunlight falling on the mountains was very harsh. I decided to leave the mountains out of this frame and only include their reflection, which lend an impressionistic feel to the photo. I adjusted the shutter speed to freeze the glasslike reflection. With the sun almost directly overhead, I was able to capture the intense blue sky reflected in the lake.
Branch Out
Image by: Tara Workman
Our experiences and choices mold us into the humans we become, with each experience shaping different layers of our personality. But just like the trunk of this tree, there are fundamentals that make us who we are. 2020 has been a year of branching out in many ways for me, but I will forever be grounded by my roots. This is an image I took while intentionally looking for B&W scenes. The blue sky and cloudless day presented a perfect opportunity.
de Broglie Wave
Image by: Saikat Chakraborty
Sunlight hardly penetrates into the depths of this place, thus the name “Black Canyon”. The Gunnison River remains near freezing temperatures for most of the year. I made this image a little after midday, when the sun finally struck the lower levels of the canyon and the fresh Spring greens cast a painterly look on the surface of the water. Some reflected light bouncing off the canyon walls added to the unique conditions at the bottom. I have much to learn about how the light interacts with the landscape but, over the years, I have come to realize that there is no such thing as bad light.