Achieving the Zen of perfect lighting
Perfect lighting through oriental wisdom? A fun, philosophical journey to make your photos really shine in summer.
2 minutes read
Photography has a lot in common with Zen. Just like Zen monks chase enlightenment, photographers chase the perfect lighting. And just like in Zen, sometimes, things get a bit hard.
Everyone who's tried taking a good photo knows how crucial lighting is. It's like the magic dust that can make a photo come alive. But getting it right? that's another story.
Think about the famous 'golden hour.' It's that brief time when everything seems to glow. Many photographers swear by it. But waiting around for that perfect moment every time? It’s like waiting for the rain in Spain, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. We have to adapt, to find beauty even when the sun is shining way too brightly overhead.
Now, let's talk about the dreaded midday sun. Most photographers avoid it like a blurred portrait. But here's the thing: just like in Zen, where you learn from every experience, you can find some cool shots even under the blazing sun.
Then there's 'wabi-sabi' – no, it's not a hot new sushi roll. It's a Zen concept that finds beauty in things that aren't perfect. Those overexposed spots or quirky shadows in your photos? they might just be the dash of wabi-sabi that makes your image stand out.
And the concept of 'mu'? it's all about what's NOT there. Think of it as the quiet kid in class who sometimes has the most profound things to say. In a photo, this means valuing the empty spaces, the shadows, and the quiet moments as much as the lit-up, flashy parts.
So, what's the big lesson here? well, perfect lighting isn't about sticking to one rule or another. It's like a fun dance where sometimes you lead, and sometimes you follow. It's about being open, trying new things, and not getting too grumpy if the sun doesn't do what you want or you don’t have the perfect lighting tool at your disposal.
I was able to put these concepts into practice on the dry and sunny island of Santorini. I opted for pairing photographs so that the meaning of one complements and sometimes changes the meaning of the other. Continuing with oriental jargon, this layout reminds me of “haikus” (short Japanese poems that condense a world of feelings into a few words). You can see the whole series here.
Remember, light isn't just something you use to take a picture; it's part of the story you're telling. Like Zen, it's about the journey, not just the destination. And if you can’t find it, don’t forget that a midday siesta helps to clear the mind (just kidding, sort of).
