Lessons 17–18: Michael Melford—Color and Light
Magic Light
Magic light occurs when the sun comes through the clouds and puts a
spotlight on the landscape, lighting part of a scene in the same way that
spotlights are used in the theater. It can happen at any time.Capturing magic light results from a combination of luck and readiness.
You have to move quickly when magic light occurs, but you can sometimes
anticipate it by closely observing the clouds. Look for holes in the clouds
where the sun is likely to peek through, then set up your shot and wait for the
magic light to appear.Preparing and Previsualizing
Before you travel to someplace new or even visit a new site in your town,
do some scouting of the location. Go online and learn about the weather
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a good location, previsualize an image you would like to make there. For
example, if you’re photographing a river, you might want to get an image
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previsualizing will help focus your mind.Patience and Perseverance
One of the most important qualities of a photographer is patience. It’s very
rare to walk into a scene, take a picture, and capture a National Geographic
moment. Most of the time, when you see a scene you think might make a
good image, you have to stick with it. Settle down, watch the light change,
and adjust your position with the light. Often, when you’re shooting a sunset
and the sun hits the horizon line, other photographers will pack up their gear
and leave. But that’s the time when the lighting usually starts to get good.
Your best bet is to stay put and keep working the shot.As you’re working a scene, use different lenses—wide angle, telephoto, and
normal—to try to see something different. Observe the clouds to anticipate
the light. Adjust your own position to shift the composition. Keep checking
the display on the back of the camera and ask yourself: How can I make this
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to capture some movement.