What Role Does Light Play In Your Photographic Process?

How many times have we found ourselves in front of a breathtaking scene, ready to shoot, but with that nagging feeling of not quite knowing what or how to capture the moment? I usually don't plan my shoots much; I love arriving at a location and choosing what to photograph without overthinking it. Yesterday afternoon, during a walk in a mountain environment I know fairly well, I reached a spot, the crisp spring air, the colors starting to warm with the sunset, and yet, a blank. No clear ideas, no predefined composition in mind. The light was still quite high, and I couldn't pre-visualize the shot; I practically had nothing in mind, nor was I clear on what to immortalize, despite the extraordinary surroundings.

In these cases, there's only one key: letting go. Letting the light guide you. It is, after all, the true protagonist in photography. Without good light, everything loses meaning, at least from my point of view. It sculpts shapes, creates shadows, adds depth, and brings that extra magic to your shots.

We often talk about the golden hour, that magical time just after sunrise and just before sunset, when the light is warm, soft, and directional. And it's true, shooting at the right moment can make the difference between a nice photo and a breathtaking image. Yesterday, the sunset light, even if it wasn't anything spectacular, did just that for me. All it took was a little patience, waiting for the sun to cast longer shadows.

I'll let you judge the result. Even without a clear initial vision, I managed to come home with a smile. These might not be jaw dropping photos, but they're still memories of an afternoon spent in nature, the place I love. Photography can even take a backseat for once.

If you've had days like these, or you simply don't care about waiting for the perfect moment and love shooting photos at 2 PM, feel free to comment on the post. It's always nice to chat about it.

Every shot you see is a slice of pure reality: authentic photos, snagged in real places and definitely not at 2 PM, because at that hour even the rocks are sweating and the shadows are committing felonies against good photography! No AI assistance here (that stuff can't tell a cat from a toaster, anyway).

Photo by Tonio Di Stefano - All rights reserved