The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Back-light

Sometimes I go a wee while without photographing anyone. Time is spent in front of the computer editing, researching and all the other stuff that needs doing to run a business, plus a few things that pointlessly waste too much time.

If this goes on too long I start to get an itchy trigger finger, and if the weather is pleasant I'll shove the big zoom lens onto my camera and go for a drive, or a walk in the woods.

In photography, both the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise are known as "the golden hour" because of the quality of the light - colours tend to be warmer and richer.

As I'm not a naturally early riser, it is usually evenings rather than mornings I will make the most of this kind of light.

The advantage of using the big zoom lens in a more closed in environment, like a woods, is you can zoom in on details, and look for interesting patterns.



But a real trick in photography is the use of back-light. If you can place the sun behind what you're shooting it can create something quite magical out of something you might otherwise have just not noticed.



A couple of evenings ago, however, it became apparent that the new spring growth of leaves had become so thick, the sun just wasn't making it into the woods. I left without a decent image in the camera, but as I was driving home the setting sun was just stunning.

And then I noticed the cows on a ridge with the sun behind them.

I had to pull over and walk back up the road to get the right angle, but was quite delighted to capture this one.



So there you have it - low evening sun as a back-light can even make cows in a field look interesting.

7 comments

Ruthie Redden said...

Beautiful images Kim, that has to be one of my favourite times to take photographs, late on in the evening, with golden glows & silhouettes.

Pat said...

I thought they were sheep at first. I love it when one can snatch those moments.

hope said...

Pure magic.

But with my warped sense of humor, my first thought was, "Huh, cows on Mars." ;)

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Aye yai yai, all I can do is look at these and sigh.

The world never gets boring for you! There's always something to discover.

Yaya Snaps said...

oh my, I've fallen in love with another of your magnificent photos Kim...the sunset with cows :) thank you for stopping and taking the time to capture more of natures beauty :)

Hindsfeet said...

Absolutely GORGEOUS, Kim......

my lord, now *that's* a *shot*.

Kim Ayres said...

Ruthie - it's a difficult time of day to beat. Hopefully we'll manage to do that faeries shoot with this kind of light at some point :)

Pat - not so much wool on these ones :)

Hope - "Cows on Mars" reminds me of the Muppet Show segment, "Pigs in Space" :)

Guyana-Gyal - there's always something to discover for everyone :)

Theanne - thank you for taking the time say lovely things to me :)

Liz - thank you :)

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