…and the Mystery of Shadow
Since this is a series, start with Part 01 if you didn’t catch it, then go forward to Part 02, Part 03, and finally back here to Part 04.
There are many different kinds of light, several of which we will address in this installment.
There is alpenglow, that amazing, magical, often surreal, glow that you see so often in the mountains just before sunrise or just after sunset. The term comes from the German Alpenglühen — “Alps glow” — and the Rockies serve as another wonderful place to observe this phenomenon.
What you see is not direct light, rather warm light from the sun below the horizon reflected off clouds or other moisture in the sky. And like so much special light, it is ephemeral. One has to be ready for it, as we were last fall in Colorado for our workshop. And notice how the shadows in the valley set off the alpenglow.
There is bounce light, such as in Arnie’s image here done in Yosemite National Park. The light is not hitting directly on that river pool in the foreground; rather, it is the light bouncing off Angel Falls in the background that is making that pool sparkle and glow. Here, too, the mystery of shadow is critical to the success of the photograph. We can’t wait to return in December.
Sometimes, reflections in a window or pond can showcase light as we found in New England last fall. We arrived before sunrise … of course … and waited for the light to come. When it did, it turned the normally-bright foliage into a spectacular riot of color. I found a lone Pickerweed to set it off. It provides the shadow element.
When we are lucky, we get to see the light that comes from atmospheric conditions. Sun dogs and rainbows are classic examples. But as anyone knows who has ever seen either, they don’t usually last long, especially rainbows. No wonder the pot of gold at the end(s) is so hard to find! This double rainbow happened during a torrential downpour near Moab, Utah where we head back in September. If the skies had been bright and sunny behind, this photograph would not have worked.
Going back to my blog on Blue Skies, Who Needs’em, the magic of light and mystery of shadow can even be found on dark, stormy days and nights. A couple of years ago, we were out photographing on the Outer Banks on the fringes of Superstorm Sandy. We took shelter in the alcoves of buildings, ducking out for a quick photograph here and there. The light on the water and sand comes from the pier we were on, but even in the sky, there is enough light to create definition in the clouds.
Remember, the word “photography” has its origins in the Greek language and means drawing with light. So, be on the lookout for the magic of light, and don’t forget the mystery of shadow to set it all off.
Next: Hmmm …
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