11/06/2026
Photography is all about light, how you see it, use it, and manipulate it.
Lighting affects the subject of a photo, the depth, colour, and mood. It also helps you overcome colour casts, can create or balance ambiance, and ensures you can consistently get a flattering shot in any situation or location when there's less than ideal light.
Almost 18 years of learning how to see light, bounce light, add light, sculpt and layer light so I can consistently take good photos in any scenario.
And light varies in colour temperature and power.
The secret between a good black & white photograph and an average one lies in the contrast between light and shadow. Full direct light for beautiful colour saturation. Backlight for a softer, moodier portrait & duller skin tones. Backlight for delicious-looking food photos. Creating shadow for gel saturation.
And I'm not using anything expensive in my work. Most of my gear is old tech & second-hand, which means we have days when we're fighting with each other, but honestly, everything I own has been a workhorse.
There is prep work for every session, making sure I am set up and prepared. After years of practice, there's also skill to overcome unexpected scenarios.
Recently, I tried to do food photography on location. We started outside in the open shade, only to be wrecked by flies. I had to solve the problem, move inside & use flash to ensure I got a good stock of shots. That's experience (and probably several hundred hours of practice, patience, frustration, and tutorials). Without it, it'd just be shooting & praying that I got a good shot!