Playing with Shadows and Light.
When taking photos I love playing with light. Light and shadows. Low-light.
I was at my parents’ house recently and noticed the sun shining in through the blinds leaving strips of sunlight across the carpet. I was watching the light and wanted to do something, anything with them.
I took a few photos but didn’t love what I ended up with.
ISO 500, SS 1/125, AP 5.6
For one thing, the glare off of my parents’ TV was distracting, especially with the white wall. I knew I needed something different. I saw the potential in the light but didn’t like what I what I ended up with.
ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0
I called over my younger son, Apollo. I liked the way the light fell across his face gently curving. But the TV and glare was still an issue.
ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0
ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0
Apollo had his g-tube removed in November. He ended up with a terrible staph infection and it has just recently healed over. I have been wanting to get a good photo of the scar and was inspired by the light. I asked Apollo to removed his shirt and got this shot. I didn’t like it at all. Not only were the stripes distracting but one fell directly over his scar.
ISO 320, SS 1/125, AP 4.0
I asked Apollo to turn around so I could get photos of the scars on his back. I wasn’t happy with this image either. You can clearly see one of his scars below his shoulder bone…but the second scar isn’t even visible.
At this point, a cloud moved in front of the sun and the stripes disappeared as if someone had flicked a switch.
ISO 320, SS 1/125, AP 4.0
Then I took this.
This is the image straight out of camera. No editing. I went home knowing this was the image I had been wanting to create.
I converted the image to black and white using my usual method. I took the photo into Photoshop and darkened the background slightly.
To me, this image is magic.
It is exactly what I was hoping for.