The right kind of light....

traunerk

Just an interesting late-night observation while musing about the importance of understanding the time and light in a successful shot...

These two photos were taken looking at spots only yards apart at different times - one obviously at sunset and the other on a cloudy day...(the exifs are a little screwed up because I set the time in the camera wrong - but that's besides the point!).





awesome difference, no?

And then there are the other shots that while potential color failures seem just made for black and white....

Original:




Converted:






So I think it's starting to sink into my thick skull that sometimes you have to adapt to conditions - or try to maximize your time when conditions are optimal - because a bit of light does seem to make all the difference....

Anyone think I'm nuts????

Regards...Keith

saurora

Nope. That black and white is dynamite!!!

ginger_55

Yes, I do like what you did when you converted: somehow those feet "reflected" or whatever became nicer. Plus, it is now a pleasing shot.

I love the cloudy day geese, I am trying to learn to do groups.

However, that sweet light drives me nuts, and I am going to start calling it the "light from hell" unless it is in a landscape.

I think I should like it, others seem to, but when it gets too gold and brassy, on a white bird or a person................welll, I don't like it!


On landscapes I have never gone wrong with sweet light. On a flock of Ibis, I think it has been very wrong.

What does anyone else think?

(Oh, and most definitely, one needs to go with what they have and learn to cope and deal with it, otherwise, one will have nothing except on the limited occasions that the light is most in their comfort level)

However, and this would be architectural and landscapes. There is a beautiful book of "Charleston area" photographs. I wanted the book to refer to it until I realized that every picture in there had been taken at
"sweet light" time. Every One. So I didn't need the book to know their secret: sweet light.

Maybe I should check to see if they have birds, and if they do, check to see why the birds actually look good wearing orange.

ginger

Rohirrim

traunerk wrote:

Anyone think I'm nuts????

Absolutely not! Your first pair our an excellent example of how important good lighting is to ALL photography.

:soapbox
IMO, when some people take nature shots they forget that Lighting is still the first principle of photography. Nature photographers can't take their studio lights, reflectors etc into the field so we have to rely on the sun (maybe a Better Beamer).

A good example of this is when I took my Burrowing Owl photos (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=31642) the other day. Part of my 1.5 hour stalking of the subjects was getting the Sun behind my back so that the birds would be well lit. I also started early in the day so as to have a softer morning light.

Steps off box

Gingers point about the "brassy" appearance of "Sweet morning light" is a good one. The golden hue from morning light can be taken to far, but in most cases I feel it adds to the photo.

Sorry to rant on there a bit,

Dick on Aruba

Great captures. The BW conversion is just great. You did save a great composition. Well done.

Dick.

DanielB

#2 and 4 are stunning

Harryb

So I think it's starting to sink into my thick skull that sometimes you have to adapt to conditions - or try to maximize your time when conditions are optimal - because a bit of light does seem to make all the difference....

Anyone think I'm nuts????

Regards...Keith

Not nuts at all Keith. I have reviewed similar shots taken under different lighting conditions and have found it pays to shoot when the light is right.

CookieS

Vwery Nice, Now to just make me GET up in time to get that early morning light, Motivation........is a bit lacking in the wee hours though you ( and even myself) have proved what a boon it is when you get the shot.