catch the light

In August of 2008 I felt a pull to buy a DSLR. I know my husband thought I was crazy since I had rarely picked up our little point and shoot but I felt this pull and had to follow through.  From the moment the camera was in my hands I have photographed everything I could think of. On Christmas Day 2008 I started a project called “my year of mornings”. It was around that time that I started to really become involved on flickr. I have been inspired by some fabulous photographers. I have been in awe of the gorgeous images I have come across. The beauty I find there inspires me every day!

I could not figure out what is was about my photo’s that wasn’t quite clicking. I knew what I liked in others photo’s and I wasn’t seeing it in my own. I can’t tell you exactly when it clicked but when it did my photography changed. What clicked was I was able to find the light, to capture it, to use it and play with it. I have people message me all the time asking me what I am doing to get such great pictures and I am never sure how to explain it. It’s hard to tell someone how to see something that is subtle yet grand! Soft yet powerful! Quiet yet expressive! I can tell you that once you find it you will wonder how you didn’t see it before and you will see your photo’s become magical.

One of my favourite types of light is reflective catchlights in portraits. If I don’t get catchlights in my portraits I am extremely frustrated! Catchlights make the person you are photographing so alive and vibrant! The best way to get them indoors is to position your subject so they are facing a large bright window. What you will get is a gorgeous reflection of that window. I find it harder to get catchlights outside. The best way is get them outside is to get your subject into open shade and have them facing the lightsource. A covered porch works beautifully for catchlights. If you can’t find open shade then you will want to use a reflector. What I have done to improve this skill is when I am out with my children, even when I don’t have my camera, I watch their eyes. When I see the catchlights I pay careful attention to where the light is coming from. Very soon you will know exactly how to capture them on camera!

“Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished”. ~Michael Strassfeld

Please share with us today how you capture light in your pictures.

Photo and words courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Sebrina Wilson.

Comments

[kosenrufu mama]

I love capturing the light window through a light curtain on the back of the subject. You can see here...
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/04/cercando-speranza.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3474310530/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3306620628/

[Marcie]

The light is everything...and how it filters thru the shade of trees and down to the forest floor:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=780

[Kylie]

I have found since I have become interested in photography I am always chasing the light ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madelynsmum/3487787237/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madelynsmum/3445789190/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madelynsmum/3417060773/

[Vanessa]

I’m still searching for my own ‘je ne sais quoi’ and waiting for that special something to ‘click’ in my photos. If it never does, I won’t mind… the process in itself brings me immeasurable joy.

Seeking out the light I find the sun kissing my 4yo’s cheek:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3530869636/
I share grins with my 3yo sunshine boy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3445417877/in/set-72157607454214429/
I spy on my daydreaming 6yo in the dreamy light of the winter woods:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3446193964/in/set-72157607454214429/
And nature, I delight in its intensity… dappled in light:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3520558792/in/set-72157607454224383/

[Dani]

I've only been purposely taking pictures for a few months now. This is great advice! Thanks so much for sharing! I will use it next time I am out with my camera.

[grammar freak]

Your second paragraph says "photo's" twice. It should be "photos". Your photos do not own anything in that sentence so they do not require an apostrophe. You are speaking about more than one photo - hence photos, the plural of photo.

[Alicia]

Such beautiful photos! You post and story are very inspiring... It is so wonderful what a few months, passion, and inspiration creates!

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

Just started using my Polaroid (that I've had for A WHILE) and have yet to fully figure it out........I know that using it on overcast days is working out very well so far!

http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2009/05/polaroid-prologue-to-ocracoke-island.html

[Jen]

I photographed my son about two weeks ago right near our patio window (which happens to be my favourite spot to photograph my children!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/3474869318/

[margie]

i posted a photo today that i had taken with "ghetto light", an expression i am not fond of but seems to be widely used. you can use any light except traditional, no flash, no sunlight, etc. use what you have a flashlight, desk lamp. the second photo in my post is a desklamp, my black moleskin and my lip gloss.

http://www.soeursdujour.com

[Jennifer Parke]

What a wonderful post! My first photo is at http://jenniferparkephotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/noodies.html
and here are two more - I love the reflections that I was able to catch in these water photos! http://jenniferparkephotography.blogspot.com/2008/08/green-lane-reservoir.html

[Puna]

An answer.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/catching-the-light/

[renee @ FIMBY]

I loved this post. I love the light. Unfortunately, I've decided to limit my flickr time because I also love to write so I mostly hang out at blogs, sometimes with pretty pictures, sometimes not. I wish I had more time there to hang out and be inspired by light filled photos because I absolutely love the light! Oh, I mentioned that already.

here's a few of my own recent light happy shots:
http://fimby.tougas.net/bergenia-and-my-street
http://fimby.tougas.net/Bergenia-close-up

http://fimby.tougas.net/homemade-lemonade

Thanks again for this post, you expressed well what I have trouble putting into words & great catchlight tips - I love those too!

[kristin]

congrats on the guest post sebrina! and thank you for choosing an image of mine too, always an honor. off in search of light! xo kristin

[Jen]

This is such a great post. Here's mine:
http://americana.visualblogging.com

[Shelli]

I photographed this girl for fairy pictures and the light really helped with the fantasy aspect. Always looking for ways to improve when it comes to lighting. Thanks for your post.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelliphotography/3533599872/

[Toni | DailyVignette]

I knew as soon as the image pulled up that it was you, Sebrina. Congrats on the guest post and well done, too.

This was taken late at night with no good light source at all. I had Buddy hop up in a chair with a table lamp at his side. I wanted him to look at me, but he wouldn't quite cooperate and was looking almost directly at the lamp, which you can see in his eyes here.
http://dailyvignette.com/2009/04/29/pet-parade/

Right now I'm looking at Buster who is imploring me to play catch with him and the patio door is at his side, reflecting nicely in his near eye and the light is bouncing off the desk onto his other eye. No good shots to illustrate this, though, just an observation. =)

And in nature, nicely backlit:
http://dailyvignette.com/2009/05/04/gifted-by-light/

[Anna/NotAnna]

Last year, I heard the judge of a photography contest advise all us entrants to stop taking pictures of things and start taking pictures of light. That piece of advice echoes in my head everytime I walk around with my camera in hand. Where is the light, I ask myself. Where is the light? Once I find it, that's where I go looking for photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31866449@N04/3489745569/

[hi kooky]

Thank you, Sebrina! I'm really going to use what you shared about catchlights. Your photos are beautiful!

[mary]

When the sun comes out after the rain is a wonderful time to capture some light:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/3392986343/

And, of course, backlighting at dusk is always beautiful:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/2418908624/in/set-72157608110317302/

[Claire]

Sebrina this is so inspiring. My photography has really reached a plateau. I have been fumbling around trying to figure out how I am going to take it to the next level and I found the answer right here. Honestly I have been scared of light up until now. I will now look at it with a fresh perspective. Thank you for sharing your talent and your inspiration so liberally.

[Rosa]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89546210@N00/3380129256/

I love this picture. I was walking through the Mall in Boston during a recent visit. I love how the orchids captured the light in its petals and how sheer the petals are.

[Dani]

This is right after she fell down while she was roller skating when the sun was setting. Even though I know this face is pure shock that she had just fallen, I think it's beautiful.

[Rachel]

Beautiful image!
Here are a couple "light" images that I like -
http://partonpics.blogspot.com/2009/02/morning-sunlight-in-corner.html
http://partonpics.blogspot.com/2009/01/birthday-roses.html

[Ana]

Oh Sebrina... what an amazing post. As sweet as your pictures. Xoxo to you!!!

[Leslie]

Amazing post, I totally agree about following the light. Here's one of my favorite pics.

http://lesliephoto.blogspot.com/

[Becky]

Gorgeous, soft, diffuse...window light is all I could wish for.

http://blog.bagdanoffphoto.com/?p=1298

[Katie in MA]

So, so beautiful. I can't look away from your photo because I keep expecting an angel to step out of the light! (Rather fitting with your quote, no?)

[Georgia]

i caught the light being refracted through some glass and loved how it turned out.

capturing light is something i would love to learn more about in photography. great post!

[Georgia]

oops, forgot to provide the link.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/05/refraction.html

[Life in Eden]

Since moving to So Cal, I've been struggling with the often harsh light here. I mean, sunny is nice and all but sometimes it can be tough to work with. Here are a couple I tried this morning.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/3534175168/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/3534175602/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/3534176386/

[djbeat]

to me, great light also means great shadows - i like to chase shadows:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3365295391/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3463619840/in/set-72157615214978268/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3526105532/

[Melissa]

Thanks for sharing!
I feel the same way about catchlights. They make a portrait so amazing!
A couple of recent ones...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollymelly/3533565605/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollymelly/3533564341/

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

I am all about light too. I see it places and get sooo mad when I don't have the time or my equipment to stop and shoot.

Hugs and love, friend.

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

P.S. Grammar freak... and periods should also go inside quotes. Just sayin.'

[Papillon Sky Photography]

I have finally really begun to understand light recently as well. And I do thank my DSLR for that! Reading about it meant nothing until I just started snapping photos at all times and places and not paying attention to the rules about the best times of day to take photos. Here's my latest favorite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3531203423/
It includes my 3 favorite things to photograph: the sky, the sun, and a piece of silk!

[Katie]

I have never posted here before but thought this was a wonderful article! I absolutely LOVE natural lighting when taking pictures. Here I posted some of my favorite pictures using natural lighting

http://roundyclan.blogspot.com/2009/05/capturing-light.html

[Sara]

Our sky was covered in clouds and the grey was so pretty. I'd never taken a picture including the sun before so I figured I'd give it a shot (expecting that it would be awful). I love the shade of blue everything became.

http://indigoamethyst.blogspot.com/2009/03/surreal.html

[debi]

Oh. The light through my pear tree.
http://emmatree.blogspot.com/2009/05/of-pears-and-dreams-and-summer.html

[sandy]

I am still working my way through the site...and totally love what I see. It looks like I need to also make the acquaintance of flickr:). Your comments on an addiction to light are valid, and I find that sometimes I like one of my photos even if someone else might say, "It's overexposed." Sometimes it is not...it's exactly what I want to show.

Your photos are lovely.

[Linda Jacobs]

I've been so enjoying viewing everyone's photos! Hrere's mine:

http://garlinjake.blogspot.com/2009/05/kylie-in-light.html

[Kathy Winter]

My little one loves to dance and she was outside the other day "doing her rain dance".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathywinter/3534249793/

[jag]

I struggle with catching the light and really appreciated your post... I haven't been very intentional about it, mind you. Most times, when it works, it's a total fluke. This photo is my all-time favourite "fluke" I was shooting into the dark ruins and noticed how the sunlight came pouring in, spotlighting this one feature:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2267102825/in/set-72157603913313770/
xox

[Margaret Roach]

I call it the godlight here in the garden (lowercase g, as it is a non-denominational light...all are welcome to be bathed in it):

http://awaytogarden.com/the-godlight

[randiman]

a great photograph, a nice beam of light and there are many online guides that provides you great tips for photography
http://www.thrumyphotos.com

[Jennifer Bacher]

It's good to hear that you are crazy about catchlights too. They add such a magical feeliing, like you can see into a person's soul.

My family spends three to four weeks per year on a houseboat in Lake Powell. The sunsets lend such beauty set against the backdrop of the red mountains and sand. My favorite time to photograph is the evenings while we are out on the lake. Here's a couple of my favorite pictures of light:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36365540@N03/3539766772/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36365540@N03/3538951895/

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