Sweet Nothings.

I have this thing against overhead lighting. It makes me cringe and do U-turns in restaurant parking lots. Because, despite what my husband says, the lighting IS just as important as the food. So, besides a few chandeliers (which are exempt from my ceiling-fixture aversion), I mostly use candles or lamps. And I get excited when it's time to turn them on at night too. They whisper sweet nothings to me, like "It's time to relax", "go put your sweats on" or "go get a glass of wine". They're good friends like that. Plus, they make great sources of light for taking photographs. I know, sometimes a bulb can look too yellowy or red. But I kind of like it. To me, it's warm, and soft. And it says "this photo was taken at night, when I was chillin' at home in my sweats". That in itself makes it super cool. Do you have any lamp-as-your-light-source photos to share?

Comments

[Sarah]

I feel exactly the same way! I love the glow and warmth of a lamp and feel bothered by overhead lighting. And the whole yellowish glow...I love it too. You took the words out of my mouth! I'll see if I can find a fun lighting photo. Thanks for the inspiration Shutter Sisters.

[mel from freak parade]

I love the warm glow that lamps cast as well. Sometimes I'll mess with the white balance to get that warm look. I know it's not following the rules, but it is soft and pretty, and I like it. I love the lighting in your picture. To me, it works.

Here are mine. They were taken with only the light from an antique desk lamp with a stained glass shade.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckyyuck/2261902541/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckyyuck/2192153878/

[Aimee]

OH, I feel the same way! Tonight, I'll try to capture my favorite lamp in the house. It's in the kitchen of all place! :)

[birchsprite]

Not a lamp but a fire shot... it was the wonderful turf fire that we had in our Irish Honeymoon cottage!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birchsprite/2213902767/

[trains and boats]

I have wretched lighting in my house except for one awesome place. My kids are actually really tired of posing for pictures there all the time, but there's always something for me to tinker with (super macro! black and white!).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandboats/2259969795/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandboats/2230309396/

[marné]

Until I got my new camera a couple months ago, I never felt like I could take pictures at night. Somehow it's made me more fearless, and I don't care what time it is, I'll take pictures :o)

Here's a recent lamp-light shot:
http://flickr.com/photos/heylucyloo/2141388048/

[Jen]

It's always so nice to read your words, Maile. They really are always so liberating in terms of breaking the rules of photography. Always makes me feel like I can take a picture anyway I want, no matter what the books say! So, thank you for that!!! And your lamplit photo is gorgeous ;-)

[kristin]

here is my lamp light...you are right it is relaxing just looking at it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2263018562/

[Melissa Giles]

I was so happy when I captured this moment. I think the lighting makes it even more special. Sorry I haven't put it on flickr yet.
http://planetgiles.blogspot.com/2008/02/mini-mother.html

[Chris]

I love using lamplight, too. I love how it can add warmth and intimacy. Here's mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/2262451503/

[simply]

http://bp1.blogger.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/R5ugqOUMsuI/AAAAAAAACH4/mghO-2zRwuc/s1600-h/zana+bday8.jpg

How about candle light :o)

~simply~

[Angela]

This is from the light of a lamp by my bed...I love light from windows the most! natural light is where my heart is!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ang_loves_jesus/542435252/

[SarahK]

See, I have become the opposite during the winter. I crave light and refuse to accept the evening when it comes at FIVE in the afternoon. So I go around the house and turn all the overhead lights on, making it as bright as possible..until it's a more suitable "evening" hour like 7 or 8. Husband made me install energy saving bulbs since he knows I can't break out of this habit until life is back to normal and it gets dark at a reasonable time of day.

But I do love the lamps at night. :)

[essaydoctor]

This one is backlit by a lamp--I love the yellow glow shining through her white hair.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23335429@N08/2260375315/

[leslie]

good thing you like chandeliers!
here is mine :)

http://flickr.com/photos/lesophiephoto/2262598523/

[cherryfizzy]

this one was taken on a whim with my iphone. i caught her reading her papa's book like a big girl...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherryfizzy/2262598393/

[krystyn]

In college, I went through spell of creating really high contrast photos with a single light source. Of course, I was on a college budget so that meant a Home Depot clamp light with an empty beer case on top. ;) I'd poke a hole in it and adjust the hole size depending on how much light I needed.

It's a fun experiment, I recommend it!

[old 'ma]

Oh Maile! Mimi-bisquits, and the gathering dusk are
SWEET EVERYTHINGS!!!!!!

[jen downer]

here's my little contribution...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shesawthings/2231888206/

i actually have an aversion to lamps. all of the cool ones are soooo expensive! and i've always lived in homes with crappy lighting, and i'm not very adept at creating "mood lighting".
but i do love that photo above... its a completely different mood than what she and i usualy create.

i love the daylight! :o)

[janeymay]

I agree with you. I took a bunch of shots of my brand new little baby on the couch the other day...used the 1.8 lens and only had the lamplight, all shining on just one side of her. the pictures of course were super yellow once downloaded...but I still love how they look. but I must admit my first thought was, "oh man, these pics are too yellow. I need to fix them." but you're so right...there's something good about it. definitely cozy.

I need to get myself on flickr so I can share the actual shots!!!

[Ginna]

Here's my contribution. I love the warm cast that the lamp gave everything, it's a nice homey atmosphere.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnahendricks/2263601988/

[Charlotte]

Here is my lamp light photo. I too turn off all pot lights etc and switch lamps on in the eve. Such a pretty light...

http://mothernaturesdaughter.wordpress.com

[Shalet]

Oh yeah! I love my lamp. Here's a couple ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/2214434293/in/set-72157603785551999/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/385016481/

[Karen G]

I use these lights the whole year through. They're actually christmas lights, but I love the warm light they give.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2262969781/

[Raven]

This is my nephew with a lantern we gave him for Christmas. It makes bug noises and he slept with it the night we gave it to him. He ran into the bathroom so he could see it in the dark and I followed him in there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2235584635/in/set-72157603834151192/

[nyjlm]

I made this shot http://nyjlm-365.blogspot.com/2008/02/2102008.html lit only by the globe light my son likes to leave on at night as he sleeps. I shot it at ISO1600 for 1.6s and just love how it turned out.

[Great Dane Addict]

Hi Maile!

I wish I could share in your love for lamp light. Right now I only enjoy taking pictures outdoors (the rest of my photos always turn out horrendous in any other light), but I'm going to work on that this year and learn more about lighting. I hope!

[Alissa]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aephotography/374123942/

My husband.

[Flash Forward]

http://outloud.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/faux-light/

[mb]

silly self portrait, used the light of a lamp in a really small room. bored one night and figured this baby would be out soon (she is out now, 2 weeks ago:-) so i should get a few more shots of the huge belly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamaspace/2181928564/

[Melissa Anne Morelli]

Why is it that life becomes brighter and clearer when lamps get turned on?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23520407@N06/2264597066/

A few other contenders are listed in my photostream as well.

[sheri]

this is old but still a favorite. i can still remember thinking how big he looked then as we talked under the light that night.

http://todayispretty.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/night-talk/

[betc]

I love lamplight. When it's bedtime I turn on my lamps and it helps everyone to kind of wind down at the end of the day. This is my daughter reading
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7862502@N05/?donelayout=1.