Lighting the Journey
Today I took another set of black and white photos during my walk, and once again I found myself paying attention to one thing more than anything else, light.
Lighting makes a photo feel alive. It gives the subject a personality, even when the subject is something simple like a small flower or a cluster of leaves. In one of the shots, the flower is gently lit while the background falls into darkness, and it instantly becomes the main character of the scene. It looks calm, hopeful, and quietly strong. In another photo, the light hits the ground and the textures stand out, broken pieces, dirt, little details that people might usually ignore. But under the right light, even those “ordinary” things become worth looking at.
I also captured leaves with visible veins and soft shadows, and I love how monochrome makes them look like sketches. The highlights feel clean, and the darker parts feel heavy, like they’re holding a story.
And honestly, I think life works the same way.
A brightly lit photo feels happy to me, pleasant, gentle, and easy on the eyes. A dimly lit one feels dramatic, sometimes even sad. It’s not that darkness is “bad,” but it carries a different emotion. It makes you pause longer. It makes you feel something deeper.
Maybe that’s how our journey is too. It depends on how we shine light on it. If we choose to focus on the things that push us forward, the path feels brighter. If we only stare at fear and doubt, everything starts to look heavier than it really is.
I’m learning that I can’t control every situation, but I can control where I place my attention, just like framing a photo.
Have a good day ahead.
”To see in color is a delight for the eye, but to see in black and white is delight for the soul.”
