Do you only photograph in "good" light?
By good, I mean your personal definition of whatever good light in your area of the world is.
I'm suprised when I hear about people waiting for the right time of day to go photographing (for personal photography, not work). I get it... and we all would love to have good light when we photograph. However, do you only photograph during these peak times?
I generally go photographing whenever... even during that mid-day blinding sun and / or in the rain.
How about you? Do you think about this or just go out and photograph whenever you get a chance.
By good, I mean your personal definition of whatever good light in your area of the world is.
I'm suprised when I hear about people waiting for the right time of day to go photographing (for personal photography, not work). I get it... and we all would love to have good light when we photograph. However, do you only photograph during these peak times?
I generally go photographing whenever... even during that mid-day blinding sun and / or in the rain.
How about you? Do you think about this or just go out and photograph whenever you get a chance.
ChipMcD
Well-known
Same here. I photograph when I can. I've been known to go back to a spot when the light is better, or even when the season is better. Lots of times, however, I'm pleasantly surprised what can happen in "bad" light.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I took some photos a couple of weeks ago in light I didn't really want to have to deal with at a time of day that was also less than ideal ... but I had no choice because what I wanted to photograph was only available at this precise time which was midday to around 1.30pm. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the air was as clean as a whistle!
In spite of using a slow film the photos were god awful and to my eyes a contrasty mess ... I wound up over exposing a large portion of my shots!
The ideal for me is morning or late afternoon and some cloud cover.
In spite of using a slow film the photos were god awful and to my eyes a contrasty mess ... I wound up over exposing a large portion of my shots!
The ideal for me is morning or late afternoon and some cloud cover.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
No silly....that would be Boring 
I shoot in All types of Light
I mean Photography is ALL about The Light...Chasing, Catching
Do Love Low Light...keeps me on my toes
Can make the Photograph more Interesting & Atmospheric
I seem to LOVE all the bad things...vignetting, Flare, poor light...:bang:..
I shoot in All types of Light
I mean Photography is ALL about The Light...Chasing, Catching
Do Love Low Light...keeps me on my toes
Can make the Photograph more Interesting & Atmospheric
I seem to LOVE all the bad things...vignetting, Flare, poor light
...:bang:..
jippiejee
Well-known
If only I lived in a less drab place... light here is ****ty most of the time anyway. So, no. But I'm often jealous seeing those bright light low sun shots from the streets of NYC for example. Trent Parke's photos in the 'Street Photography Now' book come to mind.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
No silly....that would be Boring
I shoot in All types of Light
I mean Photography is ALL about The Light...Chasing, Catching
Right, but to some...chasing the light is chasing the "good" light... not just any old light.
I seem to LOVE all the bad things...vignetting, Flare, poor light
Not that my photography shows this most of the time, but I do too.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Those low-sun shots are real nice, but most days The Netherlands have the biggest softbox on the planet, it's called 'a cloudy sky.'
Those low-contrast shots you get from that are much easier to get punchy when (digitally) developing than it would be the other way, getting rid of too high contrast!
astro8
Well-known
I've never taken a shot in good light.
I feel I'm always lurking around in the shadows, trying to make something out of a bad situation.
I feel I'm always lurking around in the shadows, trying to make something out of a bad situation.
gilpen123
Gil
Always good to shoot when the sun is low I seldom shoot when sun is too bright except when something important is happening. I never leave house or my office without a camera, on most days the GRD4 or DLux 5 is with me.
Situations like this even on a mid day sun is something that I won't hesitate to shoot even if I cause a momentary traffic
But this one won't work if the light is too bright
Situations like this even on a mid day sun is something that I won't hesitate to shoot even if I cause a momentary traffic
But this one won't work if the light is too bright
jippiejee
Well-known
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
I take shooting in "bad" light as a bit of a challenge, yesterday being an excellent example. There's always something to be had out there if you keep your eyes open
anjoca76
Well-known
Shooting in midday sun is far from my ideal time of day--I much prefer about an hour or so before dusk--but I can't really think of a time when I've left my camera home merely because I didn't like the light (too hard, too overcast). That said, I do think there are times when I have photographed something for the sole fact that the lighting at that time of day made it appealing to me, if that makes sense.
Some of Eggleston's work I find attractive not because of the subject, but because of the lighting. There's nothing too exciting about a photograph of trash left by a curb, but when captured in lovely light it becomes much more than the sum of its parts.
Some of Eggleston's work I find attractive not because of the subject, but because of the lighting. There's nothing too exciting about a photograph of trash left by a curb, but when captured in lovely light it becomes much more than the sum of its parts.
Joosep
Well-known
From monday to thursday I have classes.
From friday to sunday I work.
Gets dark pretty fast here.
I take pictures everywhere, sadly, most are during "bad" light.
From friday to sunday I work.
Gets dark pretty fast here.
I take pictures everywhere, sadly, most are during "bad" light.
Thardy
Veteran
I would prefer to photograph only in good light (the golden hours), but my favorite time to take pictures is during traveling and I have to take what I get as far as light and time.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Well, "good" is a relative term but I will and have shot at all times of day and in most kinds of weather.
I do have a preference for that lovely early morning, late afternoon light but I also try to suit the subject to the light. (what a terrible sentence!)
In other words, for example, if the light is especially harsh, I will try to look for things that work well in that light. Either by contrasting the subject against the type of light or by finding a subject that is complimentary to the light.
Rob
I do have a preference for that lovely early morning, late afternoon light but I also try to suit the subject to the light. (what a terrible sentence!)
In other words, for example, if the light is especially harsh, I will try to look for things that work well in that light. Either by contrasting the subject against the type of light or by finding a subject that is complimentary to the light.
Rob
Schlapp
Well-known
If only shot in 'good' light, I would shoot twice a year! I shoot all times, all weathers.
There's a lot beautiful late day sun in his Chromes book... simple beautiful photographs of stuff people usually ignore.
Good to see that RFF-ers photograph at all times.
Sparrow
Veteran
Good light means getting up early ...
... in poor light luck has a lot to do with it
... in poor light luck has a lot to do with it
Harry Caul
Well-known
I'm primarily a candid/available light/minimal post-processing shooter. Sometimes your highlights get blown by full sun streaming through the window. And sometimes that is ok
