“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures”…Vernon Trent
I’ve been chasing light a lot this year so far. From how light softly bounces off winter landscapes to the atmospheric light within the souks of Marrakech to the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland (more soon).
Because I’m not the biggest fan of flash photography, I try my best to use any available natural light before having to pull out the external flash unit. Even though it’s impossible to predict nature to the T, I want to get better at working those golden hours. To get better at using winter’s blue hour. Working through harsh midday light. Through soft interior lighting.
As photographers, we already know to look for the light, and my personal photography goal this year is simple – keep following the light and surrendering to it so it teaches me how best to capture it in my own creative way.
This post was also inspired by Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks‘ fantastic TEDxHouston presentation below about looking for the light. Please carve out a few minutes to check it out.
What are your personal photography goals this year? Please share below.
@Lily – Thanks! Would love to visit Ethiopia one day. Hope you’re doing great. You’ve finally surfaced for air after wrapping up your Belize guidebook. Can’t wait to check it out (and promote it too).
@Monica-USA – Thanks! I loved Morocco. Such a vibrant country.
@Filip – Danke schon!
@Monique – Thanks and definitely let me know if you need tips as well. I’m going to start running photo workshops here in Stockholm. Still in the works.
@Andi – Thanks! You’re already a fantastic photographer. I love your style.
@Erica – That’s one of my favorites too, thanks! I hear you on bringing the camera everywhere. While smartphones are great for quickly capturing photos, I still carry my smaller DSLR with me just in case I capture something print-quality.
@Matthew – It’s all about the light. Definitely share some of your photos with me once you start taking advantage of light around Gran Canaria. Would love to see what you capture.
@Ekua – Thanks! Was thinking about you the last few days actually. That I needed to catch up with you and see how things are going on your end. Will catch up with your blog this week! Definitely let me know if you need some people photography tips.
@Hannah – Thanks! It’s a beautiful place.
Beautiful! Top on my list of places to visit 🙂
Love these shots, especially the ones where the vendors are surrounded by their edible goods! It looks like some of them have to crawl in to get into their spot… looks like they’re making the most of their small spaces! Something I’d want to work on is portraits… I love landscapes but haven’t delved in portraits as much yet.
My goal is to take more advantage of the light on Gran Canaria where I live. Thanks for a masterclass in photography. I needed one of those.
I love the vertical photo where you can see how much light shines through the roof, with the two women in long dresses, the woman in front of them who turns her head to look at something, the father hugging his child, and the boy in jeans and sunglasses, seemingly with his eyes fixed on something further ahead. People can really make a photo come alive.
My photo goal for this year is simple, bring my camera wherever I go. Sometimes I’ve forgotten or not brought it on purpose and then I see something interesting or beautiful and wished I’d taken it with me.
Wow these are absolutely breathtaking!!! My goal is to take pictures like you! 😛
These pictures are amazing. I don’t know much about photography and light, but since my personal goal is to take better photos, I guess I’d better learn.
Great picture, the quality in this light is amazing.
Greetings,
Filip
Lola the pictures are fantastic by using the natural light you end up with more vibrant colors. Great job!!
Beautiful shots, Lola! I’ve also ironically been chasing light and paying more attention to it the past few months, thanks to what I learned from visiting with Chester Higgins. And thanks for sharing that video -ha! highly enjoyed her breaking down the stereotypical views of my Ethiopia. 😉 And love that she is wearing an Ethiopian cross!