Light Modifiers

If there is one thing to remember as a photographer is that photography is painting with light and like paint, light can be manipulated to create different effects.  Today's self portraits were taken using my faithful D90 and lit with 2 SB 600s, one with an inflatable softbox and the other with a homemade snoot.  The light modifiers were positioned to light my top left side and shoulder (snoot - focused beam) and the front of my chest & face from the bottom up.  See the results below.

Learning about light!

Light - something that makes things visible or affords illumination: All colors depend on light.

I decided to do some self portraits today to improve my understanding of light, lighting and mood in photography. I had fun and moved one step closer to becoming a better photographer. These photos were taken by me, for me but I am happy to share them with you!

Lighting is key in photography, but nowhere is it more evident than in portraiture. I thought that it would be easy to shoot myself - boy was I wrong. I am satisfied with the results of the first try and am now more motivated to try again.

Mystery

Looked at but cannot be seen - it is beneath form;
Listened to but cannot be heard - it is beneath sound;
Held but cannot be touched - it is beneath feeling;
These depthless things evade definition,
And blend into a single mystery.

In its rising there is no light,
In its falling there is no darkness,
A continuous thread beyond description,
Lining what can not occur;
Its form formless,
Its image nothing,
Its name silence;
Follow it, it has no back,
Meet it, it has no face.

Attend the present to deal with the past;
Thus you grasp the continuity of the Way,
Which is its essence.

-LaoTze-