In Pursuit… of Light.
Light… that’s what you capture, that’s what you seek.
This is the ever chasing pursuit to get that lasting image. The one that for some reason sticks to one’s mind. Reminding you that there are wonders out there...
Unknowns to discover, ways of seeing the world we’re yet to uncover.
Diffused Light
Aerial shot on Kallur Lighthouse, Kalsoy Island, Faroe Islands.
So, this is the story of how I came to be drawn into this idea of seeking light. Ultimately giving the name to this website itself.
The diffusion effect is that which makes the light gloom when you capture an image. Clouds are our natural diffusers, and they can provide the most amazing effect when light shines through. In this case, it was more about the light reflection on the clouds that made this amazing effect. One of my favourite shots to date.
The idea that I was constantly chasing light actually started with a set of images I got in the Faroe Islands, on Kalsoy Island. I had to do a mild hike uphill to get to this iconic lighthouse… all equipment on my back. Up there (and I was next to the lighthouse itself) it was cloudy and foggy. So I decided to take out the drone and check what was going one up there.
Imagine my surprise… The conditions were terrible on the ground, but it was just the day for aerial photography!
This cloud inversion is such a rare event, especially on that astonishing location.
Kallur Sunset at the lighthouse…
One of my favourite moments when looking back at that travel… when the clouds and the fog opened up and gave me a chance to capture the sunset on Kallur Lighthouse on this cloud inversion.
I had no idea, whatsoever, when I studied this location that I’d ever have these conditions. Everything was just done as I went along. I loved the fact that this capture just seems some kind of lightway to heaven.
Sunrise and Sunset Light
Cape Enniberg Sunset
This is the light I chase the most. That soft light that begins and ends the day. Admittedly, much more sunsets than sunrises…
But this image is undoubtedly proof of how amazing these moments can be. This images was taken on the early days on the Faroes… I just drove all the way to Cape Enniberg and noticed the weather was just right for this type of shot: Overcast just above me, but the sun was going to have this small window shining through from the horizon.
I remember so well being there waiting for the shot… I knew I was going to have such a narrow window of time… probably some 15-25 minutes. And the clouds could have proven me wrong at any point.
Enniberg Mountain Sunset
Definitely worth the wait!
The effect I witnessed on the mountain just by my side was one of the most amazing moments I had on this trip.
I was actually amazed that there was nobody else there… not even locals.
“Sunrises are better than Sunsets”, I’ve heard a great landscape photographer say. Rightfully so! Because when you get so many mornings with fog and cloud inversions… those times you combine that morning soft light with the diffusion effect on the clouds.
I gotta get up early more often…
Harsh Day Light
Drangarnir, on an sunny afternoon.
The difficult one!
Definitely it is much better to use day light in street photography rather than landscape.
The game under these conditions for me has always been about using the contrast between light and shadow. Not always to a good effect, I must admit.
Regardless, I actually took some really good shots of Drangarnir when I least expected… Definitely worth trying anyway!
I only saw I had actually good photos when I started to see these on my laptop. At least a couple of them I had right!
No Light
So, not all days have the sun shining through, right?
Sometimes you just get that grey sky, constant rain… But hey, at least you know light you’re not counting on that day… you can set your mind on any other composition.
Also, these are the days for some moody shots. That was my kind of feeling when I visited this amazing waterfall for a second time!
I knew it was possible to at lease get a view of the contrast between the water and the black rock. It was way more rewarding to make that hike than I ever expected!
(Very!) Distant Light
Capelinhos by night on a clear sky
OK OK… this one I know terribly little about… Astrophotography is not my element.
Still, this light seeking mood took me to one of my favourite locations in the world: Capelinhos Volcano, Faial Island, Azores.
I remember taking shots of an incredible sunset on this location, which looks literally out of this world!
There I was thinking “I had such luck there was a clear sky”… and it followed that moment of “hey.. wait a minute, it is a really clear sky today”.
So I stayed for a while to see if I could try this at least once. I really envy those shots I see on this type of photography. Full of wonder and mystery!
To get it right on these, though… you really need to be prepared and study all elements… Maybe someday I’ll get people to wonder with these as well…
