How to photograph "light"

I was once given this advice on shooting landscapes; "don't shoot the landscape, shoot the light".

Does anyone have any advice on how to "see" that "light" for someone that has zero artistic abilities.

I've read all of the appropriate books and they have helped a little, but that "eureka" moment has eluded me.

Any suggestions?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=359904

Sticky on landscape photography. The best way to learn is to shoot a lot at different times of day. Generally speaking as the quantity of light decreases the quality increases.

Thats a very deep subject. Much like trying to tell someone who to use color design effectively. Its something that will take time over the years to really learn.

But some very basic hints to get you started.

When you stumble across something where you do notice the light, say a building that has been lit up creatively, or light bouncing off a skyscraper and sprinkling the near buy building with interesting light, take a moment to stop and really look at whats happening with the light, and why you were drawn to it.

The same goes for late afternoon light in a landscape. Take the time to park yourself in front of the scene, and watch how that light changes as the sun starts to get closer to the horizon. It will create shadows and highlights on your landscape and there will probably be a point where you find the light is just perfect. Take a series of images during the whole process so you can examine them in more detail later.

Read about lighting design and look at the examples. Not just photography, but light design for home interiors, architecture, garden/patio lighting design, etc. Look at the various ways the light is used. It will help you see the variances in various lighting methods and techniques.

When you are standing there in awe in front of a gorgeous sunset, make sure you take the time to turn around. That same sunset will be throwing some gorgeous light everywhere, behind you, to the sides, etc. The best landscape shot could be the scene behind you, and not the sunset in front of you.

When you look at a really nice landscape image you admire, look at the lighting and image how it was lit. Where was the sun? What time of day was it? Is the sun high in the sky, or low along the horizon? Were there some clouds in the sky creating a nice pattern of shadows in the landscape? Trying to determine how something was lit is a great way to learn about lighting. It makes you think light.

Hopefully, it will help you start noticing how the light is playing across a landscape, and help you plan for it and capture it. You'll start to see clouds as diffusers in the sky, and shadow patterns on the ground. And you may find yourself thinking that the partially cloudy skies would cast some nice highlights and shadows across a valley floor you visited before. You would be thinking about the light ahead of time, and planning the time to arrive at the valley to capture the best light. You've previsualized your lighting, and are now working on how to capture that light. You've 'seen the light' so to speak.

Or you may find yourself thinking that you want to capture the sunlight just scraping along only the tops of tall grass in a field. You would know that you need to be there in the late afternoon to have the sun in the right postion to do that, and it would be that nice afternoon glow to boot. You would have 'seen' the light, and then planned your trip for the right time to capture it.

chauncey wrote in post #5636052
I was once given this advice on shooting landscapes; "don't shoot the landscape, shoot the light".

Does anyone have any advice on how to "see" that "light" for someone that has zero artistic abilities.

I've read all of the appropriate books and they have helped a little, but that "eureka" moment has eluded me.

Any suggestions?

Not having much of a clue about these things myself, if it were me, I'd assume that if it were pleasing to me, it would be pleasing to someone else. Now, where and how to meter for exposure for a particular situation is an entirely different subject.

The landscapes I'm happy with I had to wait for the light. I've gotten lucky on a couple but usually I have to re shoot or sit for a few hours and wait for everything to come together.

I'm beginning to think that, once you have the technical aspects pretty much nailed down,
being at the right place at the right time, whether by luck or design, is every bit as important.

That what your telling me?

Precisely, kind of. Pretty much.

sfaust wrote in post #5636529
Thats a very deep subject.
*snip*
right time to capture it.

Thanks sfaust,
That's some really good advice and it made me think more about it 'all'...
Thank you for taking the time to post that.

Randy

It doesn't have to be hard. Try this: First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO. Need an exposure crutch?
How the subject affects the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free: Post #47

Shoot RAW so you have the ability to blend different "exposures" where necessary.

chauncey wrote in post #5637205
I'm beginning to think that, once you have the technical aspects pretty much nailed down,
being at the right place at the right time, whether by luck or design, is every bit as important.

That what your telling me?

Once you have the technical side down fairly well, you think about the mechanics of making the photograph a lot less. Once that happens, you start to spend more time thinking artistically, and evaluating your image from that standpoint. At least thats how it worked for me.

Being at the right place at the right time is still important, but I also think you are much better off and figuring out when that right time will happen, and plan your image accordingly. It's not uncommon for a good landscape photographer to research weather, sun position, etc, and visit a particular site multiple times looking for just the right conditions. And sometimes, you just pull up and there it is

Frank, your "post #47" link impressed me. I did not realize that DOF would have that much of an influence on colors. Need to consider that some more.

Stephen, I appreciate your incite in telling me that the instant gratification thing goes right out the window when you want to get good at landscape work.
Aaah... like a stake through the heart.

Any links available for further direction?

Chauncey, don't be discouraged. Stephen is right on in what he is telling you. I have always found the ones I walked up on to be somehow more precious than the ones I worked and planned so hard for. I know it might sound strange but maybe they were a gift for the hard work at other times.

chauncey wrote in post #5636052
I was once given this advice on shooting landscapes; "don't shoot the landscape, shoot the light".

Does anyone have any advice on how to "see" that "light" for someone that has zero artistic abilities.

I've read all of the appropriate books and they have helped a little, but that "eureka" moment has eluded me.

Any suggestions?

Pick up the book Yosemite and the Range of Light (Adams) and study the photographs. They're as much about light as they are about the landscape. To learn and know light is the basis of everything a GOOD photographer does. Like Stephen was saying you have to get past the technique to find your way to self expression and understanding light is the foundation of everything.

I would also suggest looking at the portraits by Yosef Karsh and Arnold Newman.

chauncey wrote in post #5637205
I'm beginning to think that, once you have the technical aspects pretty much nailed down,
being at the right place at the right time, whether by luck or design, is every bit as important.

That what your telling me?

Funny how lucky you get the more learn and the more you do it.