Teju Cole specializes in creating meaning from unusual places. He delivers a profound statement that is meant to be pondered with his photography. This pairing delivers a sense of confusion at first, as most wouldn’t expect.

 

“Hospitality is political, and personal. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Repair a friendship. Start with one. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Begin today.”

 

With this quote, Teju Cole introduces a warm photo, consisting of slight shades of orange mixed with brown and white. The painting can evoke comfort reminding us of a calming evening by the fire; it can also symbolize a rebirth, like how autumn leaves are discarded for the season only to grow back in force. All of this ties into the message he paired with the photo. He tells us to forget the past, and start fresh. Forget the politics of the past, and instead, work on growing towards the future.

While I tried to capture the different phases of light on campus, the days I would attempt this there would be an overcast of clouds. However, this did make me notice the benefits of a cloudy day. With all of the light first hitting the clouds, it acts as a natural softbox. With this natural softbox, you can be more confident in having an evenly lit subject. However, photography’s core is lighting. Which means, to be a great photographer you must know how different lighting affects your subject. Knowing this, I looked back in my archive to see where I had played with the different lighting situations given to me. Sometimes a setting sun can be a great opportunity for a silhouette, other times it can mean your golden hour is gone. The best of the best times to grab a shot of the sky, or snag a candid profile picture is the golden hour. It’s that moment where the sun’s rays are fleeing away, leaving behind a golden aura on the setting around you. It’s a beautiful setting, only occurring twice a day, when it rises and when it sets. That is not to say that natural lighting throughout the day can’t be beautiful, yet it does mean that golden hour is a time every photographer should embrace and let their imagination flow into the camera.