Seeing 2009 (#6)

Above all, photography is about light. Light's intensity and hue shifts considerably as the sun traverses the sky and as the seasons parade past. The angle at which the photons caress a surface reveals or obscures the suggestion of texture. The very word photograph was coined by Sir John Hershel in 1839 by combining the Greek word for "light", photos, with graph, for "an instrument for recording." Thus: writing light.

I don't recall exactly when it was I first discovered the joy of creating images largely based on the lack of light -- night photography -- but it must have been fairly early in my love affair with this art, circa 1975. It demands, of course, an entirely different way of "seeing": at night something of a parallel universe is revealed under the magic of street lights, stars and the Moon.

Recently I've returned to the immense pleasure of shooting after dark, thanks to my friend Jerry's shared enthusiasm of this methodology and his willingness (and patience!) to accompany me lurking about in the wee hours. On a few occasions now we've journeyed under cover of darkness, cameras, and tripods in tow, and the experiences have been delightful. Oh: some of resulting images have been extremely satisfactory as well . . .

It must be noted that neither Jerry nor I individually nor together prefer nocturnal photography during rain showers (although we both love the emergent reflections after the storms pass); it is just our recent luck to have set out twice on nights featuring inclement weather, hoping to dodge the drops. Our skills at avoiding precipitation may leave something to be desired, but our ability to adjust to prevailing conditions and produce some art nonetheless proves worthy, perhaps.

My initial offerings for your consideration are below (I'm only posting one at this writing -- more will follow in the next day or two so check often); Jerry's can be seen here.

Party Time (Big Bang Theory #2603)

(c)2009 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.

(click image for larger version)

Details: March 21, 2009; Canon 20D, f/11, 1/3 sec, -2/3 EV, ISO 200, 78mm.
__________