Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]here are some examples on a Dutch site. http://www.statenvertaling.net/kunst/werken/rembrandt.harmensz.van.rijn.html he was very much influenced but the work of Caravaggio here,s his link http://www.statenvertaling.net/kunst/werken/caravaggio.html best,simon jessurun amsterdam ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@shaw.ca> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 8:25 PM Subject: [Leica] LIGHT......PHOTOGRAPHIC DISCUSSION. ! >> Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> wrote: >> >> we might discuss the most important element of successful photography, >> >> light! > > Douglas Herr offered & showed: >> > I'm game! Here are a few examples to start things off. I'll take a >> > thin overcast over >> > direct ..sunlight any day but whatever the light is I want to make the >> > most of it: >> > thin overcast: >> >> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/raptors/buow01.jpg >> The overcast acts as a huge white light source giving gentle shadow >> transitions no hot spots and rich warm colors. A blue sky fills the >> shadows and leafy reflections with blue. >> >> direct sunlight: >> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/raptors/haha00.jpg >> Not my favorite light 'cuz shadows are so dark. I avoid putting much >> shadow area in the photo when I've got direct sunlight to work with. >> >> backlight (2 examples) >> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/hummingbirds/hbird.jpg >> With transluscent stuff you can make colors light up. Use a flare-proff >> lens or keep the front of the lens shaded. >> >> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/cbth00.jpg >> backlight with opaque subject gives you rim light; best if you can keep >> your background and lens in the shade. <<<<<<<<< > > Hi Doug, > As always these are examples of a "Master in understanding how to make > light work in the success of your photographs!" It's always the same > thing. It's your understanding of how to make the light work effectively > as opposed to enough for an exposure. > > Enough for an exposure is easy, anyone can do that with a point & shoot or > the most expensive camera available. But recognizing the light and how it > enhances your situation is far more important than the volume to make an > exposure. Sure one still requires sufficient for a correct exposure, > however it's "seeing the light" and using it effectively is what makes the > "Magic of Light" work. > > The light to watch for and use in shooting as an opening lesson in ones > search for light is...... "Look for the shadow side then shoot from that > side." This doesn't mean silhouette, it's a form of 3/4 lighting where the > shadow is off to one side toward the camera side. > > My suggestion is... go to your local library and see if they have art > books showing the paintings of Rembrandt and you'll see exactly what I > mean immediately. Or any books with "portraits" and look for the > "Rembrandt lighting or 3/4 light" illustrating a small highlight on the > off side cheek and eye on the "shadow side." > > Once you have this recognition down pat, you'll find yourself gravitating > to the shadow side automatically as you view the scene or situation before > you. > > For those of you with copies of my medical books, "Doctors' Work," "This > is Our Work," or the latest "Women in Medicine" you'll find many examples > of shooting from the shadow side in completely un-controlled environments. > Look for it every where you go and eventually it's as simple as breathing > and your picture "look" will improve. > > Then it's easy after you have one kind of light recognition learned, as > you'll begin to see others that Doug has shown examples of so beautifully > in his photographs. > > Whether one is shooting on film or memory cards doesn't matter as it still > comes down to the best pictures have the best light making them work. > > Just look at the portraits of Karsh.... he was an absolute master of the > 20th century at using light photographically. He was also a mentor of sort > in the success of my photography over the years along with his brother > Malak as they both lived in Ottawa and became friends of mine. Trust me a > critique from Karsh was an un-nerving experience to say the least! :-) > > Anyway as you can see from Doug Herr's beautiful photographs and his use > of light makes magical photographs everytime. > > It's all about light first and the rest is easy after that. ;-) > > ted > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information