Digital Home Thoughts: Luminous Landscape: "30 Seconds To Good Light"

"Some photographers think that successful photography is about equipment ... Naturally, while good equipment and interesting locations are important it's light that plays the most significant role in allowing the creation of strong photographs. On my recent workshops in Iceland (July, 2004), I would often drive right past potentially interesting subjects, simply because the light wasn't happening. People would say, why don't we stop for a shot, and my reply would be — because the light sucks. Other times I would stop to take a photograph and people would say — what do you see? My answer would be — the light is great, so let's look around for worthwhile subjects."

Sometimes the lighting can take only a few seconds to change in your scene and this article rightly points out that it is well worth it if you can wait for the right light to take those excellent shots. Take a look at the image in this article that you can mouseover to see the dramatic change in the image with different light conditions (due to cloud cover in this case). Having said this, it does not mean that good pictures cannot be taken in low, or traditionally poor light. Read the article to find out more.