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Photography really is all about images painted with light. To state the obvious, without light present there would be no image. Light falling within the camera is the single most important aspect of photography. Its direction, colour, quality and intensity can assist the photographer in creating mood/atmosphere, emotion, special effects and also the illusion of three dimensionality in an otherwise flat medium. Whether natural or artificial, obtaining suitable light for any given situation is one fundamental requirement for a successful result - an image of a striking subject can be rendered ineffective by poor light. For outdoor photography, being in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the prevailing light is often very challenging. I have returned to some locations several times to obtain a suitable lighting condition. Reliance on strong light and shade is not always necessary for definition though - shooting on a dull, overcast day can yield acceptable results because the even, diffused light is capable of producing a softer, less harsh appearance. There are many aspects of light that can come into play – its strength, direction, the atmospheric conditions effecting it and the time of day. Sometimes it can be variable within a short period of time and can also be subtle or unpredictable. Understanding how a camera will respond to different light conditions takes lots of practice and patience, so visualising how a landscape for instance could appear in various lighting scenarios can assist in making decisions about the best time to capture it.
