Pixiq

A lot of photography is much more about keeping your eyes and mind open for a photographic opportunity. Especially when you're working with natural light, such as when you're on a photo-walk (doing a 100-step challenge, perhaps?), the opportunities come in rapid succession - but you have to be on the lookout for them constantly.

Over the years, being in 'photo mode' has become so natural to me that even when I'm not carrying a camera with me (an extremely rare occurrance, especially after I bought a Canon S95 that lives in my pocket or my bag at all times), I'm scanning the scene in front of me, looking for light, looking for photos, looking for opportunities.

The story of the Leaf.

An excellent opportunity is this shot, taken in the lake district this week-end. My parents, my lovely girlfriend, and yours truly were walking around with a camera each. As we were walking up the path, I saw a sun-beam that suddenly caught a single leaf, and nothing else. Knowing that by exposing for the leaf, it would make the background completely dark, I got my camera into position, and shot only a couple of frames.

My mother also wanted to take a shot, but by the time she had turned her camera on, the sunbeam had wandered on, and the leaf was no longer lit.

It just goes to show; light can change rapidly, and to get the shot you want, you have to stay on your toes, and act quickly.

What was your once-in-a-million lighting situation? Add a comment!

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