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Photography - Painting or Drawing with Light
When I was small (not that I have grown much bigger!), I used to dream of becoming a painter/artist. I would finish a whole box of crayons and several pads of paper in a week. I would draw and color everything that I can think of.
Whenever I see something that I would like to capture on paper but couldn’t do (because my drawing would not turn out the way I imagined a scene), my heart would bleed a little. I would be frustrated and just end up saying “I wish I could paint (or draw) that".
However, my dream of becoming a painter/artist was not to be. Why? That’s another story. Watch out for it in another hub soon.
Then I discovered photography and learned that if I just followed the light, then I could create and paint beautiful pictures too.
I presented in a previous hub some abstract photos of nature that I painted with my camera (http://hubpages.com/hub/Nature-Abstract-in-Photography). What I wish to present in this hub are pictures I enjoyed painting through photography.
What is Photography?
According to Wikipedia, - “The word "photography" comes from the Greek φώς (phos) "light" + γραφίς (graphis) "stylus", "paintbrush" or γραφή (graphê) "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", together meaning "drawing with light."
Traditionally, the products of photography have been called negatives and photographs, commonly shortened to photos”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography
So, photography literally means painting or drawing with light. And following the light is one of the best lessons I have learned in my photography adventure.
I already mentioned the sparkle of light in my hub on raindrops (http://hubpages.com/hub/RaindropsA-Few-of-my-Favorite-Things). This time, I present photos created when I followed the light and painted pictures with it. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed putting them together for this hub.
The Light at the Time of Day Influences the Mood of Your Photos
The kind of light at different times of the day, influences the mood of your photos. This is especially important to landscape photographers. So the most avid ones would even watch a certain landscape at various times of the day. Then once they find the perfect light for the kind of photos they want to create, they start taking and creating the photos they have seen while watching the light.
The following set of photos are classified based on the time of day they were taken. Notice that the mood changes with every change of light.
Sunrise
noon
Sunset
You can also add drama and create various moods in people photos.
Notice the effect of the early morning light the boys faces in the picture below.
Then, wonderful silhouettes can be created once the sun goes down at sunset.
People
The Golden Hour
If you noticed, most of my photos were taken either during early morning or late in the afternoon. These times are what photographers call the "golden hour" or "magic hour". During this time, the light is softer, warmer and most pleasing to the eye.
Depending on the light, you can add sparkle or drama to any scene during this magic hour.
So painting with light (especially if you want to paint landscapes or seascapes or even portraits) is best done during this "golden hour".
Some of My Other Photography Hubs
Comments
Jill - I'm proud to be the first here - these are soooo incredibly beautiful - pictures that speak to you. Wonderful stuff!
I've always been a fan of la lumiere anglais - guess the golden hour is as nice :)
your subject choices and your photographs are spectacular, well done you.......... x
Beautiful!
hi babes, how did you get the sailboats to pose?
beautiful!
I have never heard of the Golden hour or Painting with light, what a lovely description of those particular times of day. I really liked the children laughing and the last two shots of the silhouettes are great.
When I was small (not that I've grown much bigger) That comment made me giggle, hahaha.
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Hi Shalini,
That was quick! I noticed that you posted almost right after my hub was published.
Thank you very much for your wonderful opening salvo! I always treasure your comments! "La lumiere anglais" - I like that!
Hello poetlorraine,
Thanks for visiting and leaving a heartwarming comment!
Hi jiberish,
Thanks very much! That's short and sweet!
Hello tynee,
Ha ha ha, I just told them "ready...set...smile!" Thank you very much!
Hi QuirkyPearl,
I'm happy that you learned something new here. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your wonderful comment.
Ha ha ha, I'm petite, so my size is always the subject of ribbing at home. I guess I could not resist that.
I love looking at your photos. It gives me inspiration and ideas for my own.
Jill of alltrades,
Absolutely Wonderful! I think you are a "Photographic Artist!" It is wonderful how the light illuminates these photos during the "golden hours!" Again WONDERFUL!
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!
Photos speaks. Very natural. thank u jill of alltrades.
your pictures were just what I needed after a long day . .perfect to close the week especially on such a cold and nasty day as we had in NY today, they made me feel so warm. Must be all the waves of light shinning in)
really just beautiful!
Jill - absolutely beautiful. Your pictures are fantastic and your article is delightful to read. I love the personal touch along with the informative.
My husband uses a term called sweet light - it's that time in the evening just before the sun goes down and the light is exquisite and seems to glow around objects. He says that's the time he likes to shoot. I thank God for your artistic gift; it so inspires me and motivates me to create.
Ah! Wonderfully liberating rays of sunshine
Conquest over darkness; resiliance illuminated
Breaking through the morning hour
Victory! Victory! Resounds my soul
Shouting hallelujas, Oh Praise God, Morning has broken.
God bless you, friend!!!
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Hi M Burger,
Thank you very much! Thank you for those heartwarming words!
Hello DeBorrah,
What a beautiful compliment! You just made my day!
You are most welcome!
Hi sarovai,
Thank you very much for visiting and leaving a wonderful comment!
Hello wavegirl22,
You just made me very happy with your comment. I am most grateful for your inspiring words.
My dear coffeesnob,
You always say the nicest things. You make me happy and inspire me to do even better.
Wow! You were able to write that verse right here? Such talent! You are just amazing! Thank you!
God bless you too my friend!
Jill,
Well, as I said, you inspire me too :)
wow, this is incredibly amazing! :)... so light is extremely important in photos! thank you for the information and for sharing..
Absolutely beautiful photos my dear - you definitely have an eye for detail and framing! Love them - thanks for showing us your vision - awesome work!
- Author
Hi coffeesnob,
Thank you very much! Ha ha ha, now we have a mutual admiration society!
Hello pinkhawk,
Thank you very much for visiting and leaving a wonderful comment! Yes, light is actually the most important element in a photograph.
Hi Enelle,
It's nice to hear from you again. Thank you very much! Your comment warms my heart!
hi Jill.. can I do this using my canon ixus 960 is? I love photography but I dont have enough money to buy DSLR. I hope you ca give me some advise about playing with the camera and maximizing its potential.. thank you so much and I love your photo works..
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Hi lancen,
Yes, you definitely can! You don't need a DSLR to take beautiful pictures. Most depends on the photographer, not the camera.
Sure, I will be very happy to help you. I started the same way. As I mentioned, following the light is the best tip I ever learned in photography. The other important thing is - know your camera and what it is capable of. Then you are on your way to beautiful pictures.
Drop me a line in my email (check my profile page) and we can talk. Check out my photoblog too (link is in my profile page).
Thank you very much for your comment. You have made me happy!
These pictures are very inspiring, thanks to nature and your eye for capturing this beautiful moments.
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Hi cgull8m,
It's nice to see you again! Thank you very much for leaving an inspiring comment!
Jill I am sure I will sound like a broken record , but I just love your photography ! I am comin to the Phillipines so you can take pictures of me for my photo gallery hub . And I will throw In a Pizza as a down payment for your work ! Those sillhouettes are awesome ! Your Pal Tony !
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Hey Tony,
That's great! Tell me when you are coming so I can take your photo. Then we can tell hubpages that 2 hubbers have met.
Pizza is good!
Thank you very much for appreciating my photography! You have made me happy!
Breathtaking! Thanks for sharing! Love the photos:)
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Hello tim-tim,
Thanks for visiting and for leaving this inspiring comment!
Very beautiful pics. How do you take them? :) Thanks for sharing this to us jill of alltrades.
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Hi Emie,
Thank you very much! How do I take them? It's rather a subjective thing I suppose, but as I shared here, following the light is the most important aspect of photography for me.
Wonderful photographs Jill. You look through the lens with the eye of an artist. Another great time to take photos is when the sun has almost set yet there are no shadows. It is truly an amazing phenomenon that a photographer friend pointed out to me one night. There was a light dusting of snow covering the field behind his townhouse and not one single shadow, it doesn't happen often but I watch for it now. I also like to shoot into the sun, it creates very abstract images. Thanks for sharing your photography with us, you are gifted.
PS amazing how you got the sailboats to pose like that LOL
Your new fan, Carmen
- Author
Hello Carmen,
Thank you very much for your kind words! You make me happy.
Hey, I didn't know about that, about that special time where there is no shadow. I think I'll watch out for that. Thank you very much for telling me about it.
I'd like to see your photos. Do you have them in your hubs? I'm heading over there after I send this.
Thanks again!
What a wonderful eye and fine skills you have as a photographer. I love every one of these. Thank you for sharing them with me. Beauty to behold.
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James,
Such inspiring words! I really appreciate them because they are coming from a true artist.
Thank you very much!
beautiful and inspiring photos. My husband is mad on photography. Sometimes especially when traveling around australia he would take as many as 700 photos in a day.
He would take pics of anything like 2 ants crossing the road as simple as that but the sunrise and sunsets that time of day and water reflections are the best.
love your photos. Just gave you a thumbs up.
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Hi Eileen,
Thank you very much for your inspiring comment. Your husband sounds great!
I also do that, take pictures of ants and other things that people normally don't pay much attention to. Check out my bugs hub and my ants hub.
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Hello nikki1,
Thank you very much for your heartwarming comment. I really appreciate your giving me a thumbs up.
God bless!
Hi Great work! I enjoyed reading this. Looking forward to more!
Hi Jill What fabulous pictures. The Philippines looks wonderful. Carmen's comment abut the "no shadows" time of day was interesting too. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Moneylady,
Thank you for the visit and nice, encouraging words.
All the best!
Hello Gypsy Willow,
It's nice to see you again! Thank you very much for your heart-warming comment.
Hi again Jill of all Trades, which you have truly lived up to,as I read through your Hubs, and once again, your Hub, Photography - Painting or Drawing with Light shows a lot of Passion, and I loved the Sunrise and Reflection Pictures you caught on Film. Oh by the way I finally as you requested added Sketches I had done during the 80's and 90's most I had done are owned my others, I'd about 300 overal, some just redrawing of masters of the past, a lot just protraits from smaller pictures, some inner creations. Didn't sell to many, mostly gifts to friends.
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Hello Amez,
It's good to hear from you. Thank you very much for visiting and for your kind words..
That's great, I'll check your hub after this.
You are truly an artist with light! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.
Love and peace
Tony
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Hello tonymac,
You are inspiring me with your comment. Thank you very much. It's great to see you again!
All the best!
Beautiful pics!
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Hi Painter,
Nice to see you again!
Thank you very much for your appreciation. Maybe we can link up some of our hubs?
God bless!
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