Superhero Photo Challenge: The right light

Light is everything; every photographer knows this. It can turn the most ordinary things into magic, elevate them to a kind of poetry. In the right light, everyone looks more beautiful, more true. It's almost as if you had never really seen them before.

It's an age old metaphor, I know, seeing things in the right light, a different light, etc. But I just saw the connection with photography today. As photographers we are light seekers, beauty hunters, we want to see something extraordinary and we usually do. In a very literal sense, we are trying to see things in the right light so that they please us, are interesting to us, give us the pleasure of appreciating them.

This is a kind of spirtual practice as I see it, a way to move through the world looking for what you can love, what you can be grateful for, what dazzles you about this colorful, amazing world.

For this week's photo challenge, share your photos shot in the most magic of light. We want to swoon.

Comments

[Deeleeaick myself for not having checkt]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deeleea/864850280/

This is hands down, my favourite pic I've ever taken of the Opera House. And having lived here for 10 years.. .there have been a few. It was one of those serendipitous afternoons and I STILL kick myself for not having the image quality higher in my little point and shoot, I'd really love to have this on my wall.

[leaca]

this one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8882048@N08/3045460579/

and this one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8882048@N08/3039970510/

are my favorite "light" shots.

[Deeleea]

Ooops... ignore cut and paste fail in previous entry. *groan*

[hi kooky]

I pulled some old favorites for this one.

http://hikooky.blogspot.com/2009/03/photo-challenge-right-light.html

[Marcie]

The 'right' light...a 'new' light. Doesn't matter - as long as it's 'light'.
Here's one taken in early spring/winter light:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=709
And another taken in another season:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=194

[chocolate covered musings]

one of my favourites is this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoniewise/150964134

taken on an early morning bus tour at the very top of new zealand's beautiful south island. i had a weekend on my own and was spending time around the places i grew up. for me the photo isn't just about the beautiful light of the sunrise, it's also about the feeling that this photo evokes every time i look at it and the peacefulness and light i felt in myself during the trip.

[CDScott]

I am sharing some old favorite shots. I love shadow and silhouette and what lack of light does to my subjects. Does that meet the challenge? I love them either way.
http://courtneysablogger.blogspot.com/2009/02/silhouettes-and-shadow.html

[Kim Nixon]

When we left the hotel to a heavy mist day, I thought all shots would be horrid, why even grab my camera.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3272160913_3cae1e71a3_b.jpg

[Virginia Wood]

@chocolate covered: Flickr won't give it up.

@marcie: Silent Melody simply blew. my. mind. That shot is pure genius.

[Busymomma66]

My favorite magical light (right now):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymomma66/3319858511/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymomma66/3047206969/

I'll be out shooting like crazy the next day or two--hopefully making magic.

[Liz]

I walk my dog in the Arboretum in Boston almost every weekend, and every time I passed this tree last fall I had to take a picture of it! I kept waiting and waiting for the shot I wanted, and finally I got this one:

http://inventingliz.blogspot.com/2008/11/golden-giant.html

It was the perfect combination of the leaves finally turning the right color, the light hitting it the right way, the breeze blowing just enough to stir up the leaves, and the sky making the perfect background. Enjoy!

[Holly]

I took this photo last fall, in the evening. This country road is full of twists and turns which makes It is one of my favorite places to look for opportunities.

http://themares.blogspot.com/2009/03/shutter-sisters.html

[Mod Girl]

Late February, late afternoon light, in my living room:

http://modobjectathome.blogspot.com/2009/02/micromacro-1.html

[Katy]

The most perfect light, to me, is always natural light. Whether that means full sunlight bathing a flower, or twilight, or the golden hour...it's always sunlight. Recently, though, I've been mostly in love with the golden hour and the time right after, the blue time of twilight. :-)

Beautiful twilight: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmtucker/2624452925/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmtucker/2979622369/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmtucker/2993296629/

[spread your wings]

it was the only available light creates the mood here - T

http://spreadingwings08.blogspot.com/2009/02/once-was.html

[Puna]

Loved looking through all of these this morning.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/light-and-coffee-cups/

[kosenrufu mama]

here my light....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3316764518/
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/

[Gardenmama]

I love the way light (or absence of light) plays a role in each of these pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710823@N07/3334865451/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710823@N07/3335699426/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710823@N07/3335697252/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710823@N07/3334859283/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710823@N07/3334856767/in/photostream/

[shelli]

This is an old favorite of mine that I probably would have never shot if it hadn't of been for the wonderful light.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spabis/3335728816/

[Charlane]

this is my one shot where I really think I captured the light exactly right

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3316840632/

[Kathleen O/ko2008]

Love the magical light...I love this quote (and it inspired me to make a whole flickr set):

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.
— Aaron Rose

A little witchin' hour flare:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/3315457694/

[Leslie]

http://lesliephoto.blogspot.com/2009/03/guadalajara-light.html

Very lovely post...here's mine!

[margie]

a recent manual shooting attempt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/

[Belinda]

Thanks for the lovely challenge, Andrea.

As soon as I read your post, my mind immediately jumped to this picture taken last year when I went camping. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/selfsufficiencygirl/3336167480/

[Brenda]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onebeach/2913990848/in/set-72157606039432272/

The light at the beach is always fickel. You never know when the light will come... if it will. But one day, between storms I was able to stumble upon a wedding.

[Diane Schuller]

Mine are not located at Flickr but at this url. Three in one so you don't have to click in multiple places. I love light!

http://albertaphotography.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/the-right-light/

Diane

[nicky thomas]

Hello Shutter sisters

The morning light bounces off the white wall of our next door neighbours kitchen into ours. It's bright and clean and delicious. The afternoon light slides down the side of the house and into the living room. At a certain time of the afternoon in the spot just to the right of the rocking chair, the light is gentle, warm and soothing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/3062392174/in/set-72157600173296110/

i hope you like it
Have a lovely day

Nicky x

[Dory]

Here are 2 that I just took.
The first is from Royal Chitwan Park in Nepal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyf/3335711551/in/pool-shuttersisters

The second and third was from Dhaka Bangladesh. I was up on the roof of my hotel and the sun was coming from beind the construction workers next door. I loved the silhouettes of the workers it created.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyf/3335722405/in/pool-shuttersisters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyf/3309122334/in/pool-shuttersisters

[Krystal Radlinski]

I love this topic!

We forget sometimes, with all the crazy textures and actions out there, that the best images are simply translating the fleeting beauty of natural light and moment into something we can keep.

http://www.k-gallery.com/kjournal/media/2/20090202-Brown-wedding-265C.jpg

[jody]

I love light. I see it everywhere and usually wish my camera was nearby lol. I have become a hunter of light! And I know one place light likes to live in on my kitchen countertop in the early am. =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3326007488/

[mama-pan]

Here's one where the effects of the afternoon light surprised me for sheer goldenness--

it's my son on his own hunt for the perfect shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98076237@N00/2945957144/in/set-72157607385600907/

[Heather]

Here are two I caught recently. My son at the beach:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pihltribe/3291317232/in/set-72157614036416681/

and this wrecked barn just before a storm. i love this one!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pihltribe/3294194770/in/set-72157612521388460/

[Heather]

I love this challenge. I'm always regretting not having my camera when I see certain things in the right light.

Here are some from the recent months that I was able to catch.

http://cupofteaandagoodbook.blogspot.com/2009/03/super-hero-challenge-right-light.html

[Julie Alvarez]

I am just a hunter, like many of us sisters are, of light. Always. Not always the big light, but the special one, the one that makes things special somehow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3328820677/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3327181838/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3320617129/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3312885330/

[GayleV]

http://momandcamera.blogspot.com/2009/02/cool-light.html

New to your site--but love the inspiration!! This is my favorite "light" picture recently.

[Eileen]

This is one of my favorites. I did very little processing on this..just a crop and some exposure adjustments... I love the morning.. the light is so gorgeous

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26989547@N00/3206309803/in/set-72157612718978148/

[claudia]

I've learned so much about noticing the light this past year
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2991153486/in/set-72157607006034995/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2807997564/in/set-72157607006034995/
...and then just this evening
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3336214657/

[Monica]

I had a hard time deciding on just one! So instead of just one, I uploaded four. :)

If you'd be so kind, I'd appreciate a comment saying which one is your favorite! Thank you!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35284982@N05/3336291767/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35284982@N05/3336293235/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35284982@N05/3336339867/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35284982@N05/3337174830/


I'm sure they don't even begin to compare to some of the others linked to here... I'm off to look at those!

[dr lyn]

I'm not sure it's the most magic of light, but spring has finally peeked out today -- and I spent some time today looking to the big blue sky for warmth and renewal...

http://lynlepre.typepad.com/

[Alejandra]

Currently this is my favorite light picture.

http://fotografias-fotografias.blogspot.com/2009/03/41-years-old14965-days-old.html

[Bridge]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/3229150198/

[Sandra]

Taken at home on a sunny morning. I love the way the golden light filters through the windows and makes everything glow!

http://artfullife.ca/?p=439

[June]

This tree covered with golden blooms caught my eye from far away. It was very late in the afternoon and the sun was very bright. The sun was totally in the wrong place, I thought. For sure I'm going to get plenty of flare and glare. The effect is quite surreal though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/junedel/3337406376/

[chocolate covered musings]

sorry about my link earlier on, it should be okay now :)

i also remembered this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoniewise/451260791/
we took some friends for a surprise picnic dinner - on top of an old bunker in wellington (new zealand) overlooking the airport. we had an amazing view over cook straight - we drank champagne and had bread and cheese whilst watching the planes & ships and watching the sun go down.

[Keli]

Wow, so many beautiful photos here!

I just happened to catch this light at the zoo yesterday ... didn't see it until I uploaded it and saw the explosion of bokeh.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twelve-paws/3336271037/

I always try to capture the light after a rain storm. It's so peaceful and muted ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twelve-paws/3291043290

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twelve-paws/3314851972

[brandi]

"light seekers" Wow...I never thought of it that way but that's so totally right on.

I love different phases of light for their differences.

the lonely quality of twilight:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/3257207978/

the gloriousness of the full sun:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/3240134644/

and probably my most favorite- dappled light:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/3026030176/

[JoAnne]

I was clicking for my 'Project 365' at the end of the day...and then you posted this :).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31299004@N02/3336579432/

[Kelly]

Here is mine, shot yesterday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3339313343/

[Jean M Fogle]

LIght can change the way a picture looks. I posted pics of wildflowers in different light.
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com

[Midori]

Here is my personal favorite to share.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebirdofhappiness/3218579468/in/set-72157613010700483/