Photography

What A Difference The Light Makes

Photography is all about light.

With digital photography, it’s much easier to manipulate the light of an image you take. But the best pictures are always rooted in real life, in the way light is captured.

It’s particularly important to chase the light when shooting film. Just as the camera you use or the film you shoot can affect the final picture, so can the natural light and the time of day you shoot.

I live in the Kadikoy neighborhood of Istanbul, and I am always carrying my camera. Often, I will take the same picture twice (without realizing it) on different days. One of my favorite buildings in Kadikoy is the old Haydarpasa Train Station, and it always catches my eye as I walk along the seaside. Weeks apart, I took two pictures of Haydarpasa from nearly the same angle, but at VERY different times of day.

The first picture was taken in the middle of the day, when the sun was shining bright.

Haydarpasa by Day

The second was taken in the early morning, when the sun was still rising and everything had a pinkish golden sunrise glow.

Haydarpasa at Dawn

The composition is nearly identical but the images feel completely different. The slanty sunrise light adds drama and warmth to the picture that is lacking from the midday shot. Each picture shows the building, but the colors and dramatic vignetting of the sky add layers to the sunrise shot that are lacking from the even-toned midday shot.

One of my favorite photographers, William Eggleston, was a master at using golden hour light to add colors and dramatic depth to his images of everyday things. The simple can become exquisite under the right circumstances.

As I travel, I try to remember to seek those times with the best light– usually the evening time golden hour before sunset (since I am not much of an early bird). It’s easy to take magical, dramatic pictures without post-production– you just have to chase the light!

17 Comments

  • M. R.
    February 20, 2014 at 10:26 PM

    Quite delightful! These comparison studies are always fascinating!

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      February 27, 2014 at 10:34 PM

      Thank you! My sister is the one who encouraged me to put the comparisons on the blog (I used to just email them to her), so it’s nice to hear that people find them interesting!

      Reply
  • Kirstin
    February 21, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    So lovely! and I totally relate to taking pictures of the same scene on different days without realizing, sometimes I can’t help thinking that a great view needs to be captured again.

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      February 27, 2014 at 10:36 PM

      Exactly! I have only recently realized how often I do it. I should be more conscious of it, since I only have so much film, but sometimes the comparisons can be pretty cool!

      Reply
  • Rhianne (@forthedistractd)
    February 21, 2014 at 11:43 AM

    you can’t beat golden hour photos πŸ™‚ I love both of these though – because they do show how important light is. Lovely shots!

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      February 27, 2014 at 10:36 PM

      Thank you Rhianne! And I agree, golden hour is the greatest.

      Reply
  • Quyen
    February 21, 2014 at 7:03 PM

    I love both. Sometimes my favorite photos are from a lack of light, surprisingly.
    http://liveitinerantly.com/

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      February 27, 2014 at 10:37 PM

      That makes sense! Less light can be rather evocative πŸ™‚

      Reply
  • pollyheath
    February 22, 2014 at 2:57 PM

    I love your comparison pictures and your thoughts on film. Someday I’ll get off my ass and get using my old film cameras again!

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      February 27, 2014 at 10:38 PM

      Thanks Polly! You should definitely do it. Moscow on film would be grand. One of my goals is to shoot with an old Soviet analogue camera in Russia. So first I need the camera, and then I need to get to Russia…

      Reply
  • Silvia
    February 27, 2014 at 7:01 PM

    Such a poetic post! Love both of the pictures.

    Reply
  • eemusings
    February 28, 2014 at 1:32 AM

    As a very much amateur photographer, I’ve definitely learned that shooting in good light is the best thing I can do to give myself a fighting chance at getting good shots πŸ™‚

    Reply
  • Doyle Air
    April 6, 2014 at 10:07 AM

    It really amazing how light changes so much in seconds. I remember listening to an aboriginal elder who was describing how Uluru (the big red rock in the outback) changes into a thousand hues as the sun rises and sets in a matter of seconds.

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      April 7, 2014 at 12:43 AM

      That sounds amazing! I would love to see it. Light does magical things πŸ™‚

      Reply
  • Lydia
    August 13, 2014 at 1:04 PM

    Quick question – what camera are you shooting with? film? lovely photos. Great eye

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      August 15, 2014 at 7:23 PM

      Hi Lydia! I shoot primarily film. My main camera is a Pentax ZX-50 that I’ve had for nearly 15 years. I also shoot with an old Soviet KMZ Start, a Holga, and I’m currently attempting to get a good roll out of a Yashica MAT 124. (None from that last camera are on the blog yet.) I have a Polaroid camera that I use rarely because I don’t have much film, and I supplement all this analogue goodness with some shots from my iPhone.
      Both of the pictures in this post are from my Pentax.
      Please let me know if you have any other questions!

      Reply

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