The Spice of Life

They say that variety is the spice of life, and I couldn't agree more. I thrive on variety. The truth is, I get bored without it. Doing the same thing day in and day out is what drove me away from the nine to five office job I once had and steered me torward what I do today. What I do today, thankfully, is different virtually every day. And what I did last weekend was so completely different to what I normally do that it alone added enough spice to last me a month.

My latest project is something that has inspired me to explore this subject further. Some may say 'well of course, we're talking about a nude man'. But it is so much more than that. What I love about this subject is all about the light. What most non-photographers don't realise is that the best photographs don't come from the best equipment (although good equipment does help). Its an understanding of lighting patterns. What makes a photographer a good photographer is their ability to see light and to understand where it needs to be and possibly more importantly where it shouldn't be, in order to make an attractive image.

Now I am not saying I have mastered this art because that is far from the truth. This is the sort of thing that will take years to master. But the variety in my subjects is helping me to get there. This project involving the male form has got me doing more with light than I have done since I began using studio lights. I now feel hugely inspired and ready for more. This project is far from finished. In fact, this is hopefully just the beginning.

Comments

Derek Barrett said…

I couldn't agree more. I've just come back to studio work after a long gap and I'm constantly trying to improve and modify my lighting skills.

One thing that people often don't appreciate is that it is the absence of light that shapes the subject. i.e the shadows are more important than the light.

Like you, I've recently been doing some sessions with partially clothed male and female subjects and the interplay of light and shade is what makes the images.

I too, relish the variety that photography can throw at you. No two days are alike and I just love to spend hours improving my craft skills.

10 March 2010 at 21:11

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