TAOP - Light - Exercise - Variety with a low sun

A series of images using a low sun but with the sun in a variety of positions in relation to the subject. I've used trees and shadow to help demonstrate the use of the low sun

Frontal Lighting

A low sun can create some interesting shadows. From previous experience I've learnt to angle the sun creating this type of image so that my shadow is not captured in the image. However the low sun has created some really interesting shadows leading the eye along the path to the 2 frontally lit trees across the path from each other. I really like the stretched tree shadow and I note many films use a similar effect perhaps with moonlight to create tension and fear or simply just mood.


Side Lighting

The light in this image is coming almost 90 degrees to the left of the camera position. There is dappled light on the green left hand sides of the leaves in the foreground and the shadow in the foreground reaching from left to right can be seen. 



Back Lighting

I've shot into the light,"contre-jour" (against the light) I believe the term is, and have used this to highlight the beautiful filigree of the tree. This was quite a difficult image to take but I've used the sun to put the tree into silhouette from the camera's perspective. The sun is a little blown out but I think this is expected in this type of difficult situation. The image has been under exposed about 1 and 1/3 stops to counter the bright light.

Edge Lighting

The sun is just to the left of the frame and can be clearly seen lighting the left side of the tree and the right side of the tree is in shadow though because the sun is in front of the camera the shadow falls toward it.. Sun is creating an interesting shadow against the branches of the tree and we will see later how I have also used this effect to create interest in the frontal lighting image


Exercise Learnings

a) an awareness of the sun to the photographer's position can be important when giving consideration to the use of light. Shooting into the sun contre-jour though may require exposure consideration, can put the subject into silhouette to create interesting images

b) Light and shadow can create more depth to an image and without even considering the qualities of light during the golden hours, just the low angle of the light can be used effectively. These effects can be used to good effect with both natural and artificial light

c) The previous module talked about colours and its clear that the type of light during the golden hours can cause the colours of objects to appear to vary. This will no doubt be as a result of the strength of the light waves bouncing off / being absorbed by the various subjects within the frame. Michael Freeman in his book The Photographer's Eye talks about muted colours

d) Mood can be created using light to to suggest the start or finish of a day or perhaps create mood or tension within an image. Many cinema goers will recognise the use of light in films to create an environment

e) Contre-Jour lighting can create some wonderfully interesting images, particularly when combined with a low sun. I've attached a link which details a wide range of images that look almost simple but have strong impact: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=contre-jour&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0j-OUYPfAsG-OYCOgKAN&ved=0CFoQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=1099

f) Contrast between light and dark areas within an image can be difficult to capture in a camera sensor that reflect the dynamic range that can be viewed by the human eye. I am starting to look into High Dynamic Range and have recently started reading a book Practical HDR by David Nightingale  where i note some amazing and wide ranging images can be created