“It has taken thousands of photos to realise that the more I chase shadows, the more I need to rely on light”
I have had an epiphany of late - a literal and figurative "light bulb moment".
For the longest time, my eye has been drawn to dramatic, high contrast compositions. Chiaroscuro - the concept of light and dark, has been a guiding concept in my style. Yet, somewhat frustratingly, I have been unable to produce 'dark' images without sacrificing clarity. Whilst film emulation and 'noisy' photos seem to be the stylistic choice of today, I have been trying to unlock the secret of high contrast photography that, most importantly, retains high clarity.
Embracing external lighting has been somewhat of a game changer in this process. It may seem like an obvious solution, but it has become clear that I have been focussing on the wrong variable this entire time. It has taken thousands of photos to realise that the more I chase shadows, the more I need to rely on light. Specifically, highly focussed, deliberate light that allows me to exploit the space between.
So, the learning cycle begins again. With the use of external light sources - the formulas change, variables multiply, and possibilities become infinite.
