Note: For some reason WordPress messed with exposure and saturation at some point during the upload process, which means all the photos in this post are either flushed or overexposed (or at least more exposed than they should be). I’ve set up a Google Drive folder [click here] with the photos in their original condition (plus a few extras that I thought looked good but left out to keep this post concise).
One of the things I find the most fascinating about light in photography is how influential it is in the design of a scene. Even simple changes in lighting can have a tremendous impact on the tone of the piece, enough to make the same location or even subject seem entirely recontextualized.
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T5i
f/5.6, 1/1250s, ISO-100, 18mm
1. Omnidirectional natural light
This photo was taken in my backyard on an overcast day, pointed directly towards where the sun is behind the clouds. With the sky appearing to be almost entirely white, the trees and house appear much darker in contrast.
2. Directional natural key light
f/5.6, 1/80s, ISO-100, 18mm
This is the sliding door in my living room, with the curtains partially drawn and light pouring into the room through the windows. The resulting photo shows shadowy corners, particularly on the left- where the darkness and light almost seem to cut evenly.
3. Natural light augmented by an artificial light source
f/4, 1/30s, ISO-800, 18mm
This solar light outside of my room mixes with the dim natural light of late dusk, and personally reminds me of a lighthouse on a gloomy night.
4. Single artificial light source
f/4, 1/30s, ISO-400, 18mm
This scene, otherwise engulfed in darkness (save for the increasingly dark early nighttime sky), features a bright porch lamp as its sole subject.
5. Multiple artificial light sources with the same color profile
f/4, 1/30s, ISO-800, 18mm (contrast slightly enhanced to improve clarity)
The lights along this fence are all the same color and align evenly at each post, portraying a sense of uniformity.
6. Multiple artificial light sources with divergent color profiles
f/4, 1/30s, ISO-800, 18mm
For this photo, I put a different color on each screen in my room, which creates a mesmerizing mix of primary colors.
7. Experimental lighting
f/4, 8s, ISO-100, 32mm
One particular type of photography I find to be very interesting is long exposure, because it enables me to essentially draw with light. In this photo, I attempted to sign my name with a laser pointer… I think I did okay?
Hi Noah,
Your creativity shines through throughout the project, especially in your experimental shot as well as your shot of multiple artificial light sources. Your use of color (nice mixture of muted / saturated) and mood work especially well in these two images. You also show a creative use of scale with your shot of natural light augmented by an artificial light source. Great job!
Hey Noah,
Your images are giving me Virgo and Aquarius energy! Gentle and earthy but also bright and vibrant when it counts. You have a good eye for color and composition, I enjoy how simple but nicely balanced your second photo is as well as the framing in your third photo. Nice work.
Hi Noah I really enjoyed looking at your photographs, they have such a visual language which belongs to you. In all of them I noticed you made the contrast less so the darks look more grey and this gives such a beautifully washed out aesthetic to the photos. The photographs which really spoke to me is first the one with the various computer screens and colors because it looks so abstract yet it is kind of not obvious if they’re screens or lights but works great in photography. Then your photographs with the lights shining on the ground and on the wall just are so peaceful to look at and so minimalistic but beautiful. I think you did a great job putting forward your visual aesthetic and all of the photos look similar and work great together! Excellent job!