Let there be Light!

The last video I created on my youtube channel, while visually awesome (I think), still lacks the full explanation of my meaning - “shoot the light”.  You see, light is the brush in which a photographer or cinematographer paints with when they create their visions.  The sensor in your camera is literally a light recording device.  In fact, the word photography is a combination of the Greek words “photo” meaning “light,” and “graphia” meaning “writing” or “drawing.”  Drawing with Light!

Now, many of us just see an opportunity to take a beautiful image and simply snap the picture.   Whereas a professional will take a light source and bend, shape, brighten, soften, etc it to provide the visual environment they envision.  It can be a lot of work, and lighting gear gets really expensive.  You can drop thousands in lights, but not create a beautiful image.

Here’s the thing.  You can have the most beautiful model, a perfect waterfall, or the most amazing landscape, but you cannot see it without light.  Luckily for us, the sun provides ample lighting (at least during the day!) - and it’s one of the reasons why I love golden hour photography.  Go to a location mid day, take a photograph.  Then go back to that same location during sunrise or sunset and take the same photograph.  What makes it different is the light.  When the sun is low on the horizon, the light rays reflect and refract off Earth’s atmosphere to give off unique, soft light.

That’s just an example with sunlight.  We humans have harnessed the power of light ourselves and have so many ways to light people, objects, and scenes.  Sometimes, a location or venue looks awesome and you want to take a picture of it…but why?  Most of the time it’s from the way it is lit.  So, the next time you decide to pull out your camera or cell phone to snap a picture, take a second to wonder why that scene is worthy to take that shot.  Pay attention to where and what kind of light there is - and Shoot the Light.

If you haven’t had the chance, check out my video regarding shooting the light here - https://youtu.be/IAGIbJHjNlQ