Perhaps I have chosen a confusing title
for this article, so please let me explain . . .
The issue is this, i.e. one can get out
for the early light or snooze a while longer and go and shoot
'later'. Conversely, moving to late in the day, one can shoot
'earlier' or shoot until late. This could be until
the sun is
behind the horizon, or until the twilight has nodded off.
This has come to be known on my photo
workshops as 'shooting in available darkness', and is oh so
much easier to do in this digital age.
Obviously, one doesn't always have the
opportunity to be at a particular spot at the best time, but if you
do it's worth the effort. For instance, this first image was taken
at around 10 a.m. . .
.
Mount Hood, Oregon
. . . . and this one below at the
same spot was shot at sunset . . .
Mount Hood, Oregon
I would say they're both nice on the eye
in their own right, but for me, the earlier or later light is always
going to be the
most pleasing . . . if the opportunity is there of course.
The suggestion here then is to make the
extra effort. Yes, it's difficult to 'discipline' yourself when
traveling alone, so why not try a photography tour such as ours?
In closing I'd like to add that
'daylight' shooting is not the end of the world, as the first image
can attest to. Neither in all practical terms is it 'too bright to
shoot' as some are heard to say.
Weather can 'paint' a landscape with
light and shade as happened with this next image below taken
right at midday . . .
Jenne Farm, Vermont
The 'other' message is, yes, early and
late is better light as a rule, but don't rule out the weather
factor! Then again, the dawn can usually offer something different.
Remember that whatever
you shoot, the final result is only limited by
your imagination. Good shooting!
John Baker, Travel
Images
All images and text are strictly copyrighted by John Baker
Photographer LLC/Travel Images, 1990-2010. Permission in writing
must be sought for any form of reproduction.
Do you have questions or
comments about 'Practical
Photo Insights'?
To share your thoughts or suggest a photography subject you'd like
to see addressed, please
E-mail
me.
You're also welcome to submit images for critique, which run the
risk of being used as a Practical Photo Insights topic!
Back to the Photo Insights
index
