Light - High and Low key

The question posed here was to look at magazines and books and think about whether the pictures were lighter or darker than one would expect, and the effect that had on the photograph.
I chose to look at the June issue of BJP for this.

Many of the images that were very light were advertisements (either used as such in the magazine or in an article on high velocity photography).

Dan Tobin Smith's ad for Boag's Brewery

Another use of light images is to portray optimism, such as in weddings, or in this photograph by Ricky Adams, who says 'I want to share the optimism, energy and enthusiasm of the subjects I photograph'

Ricky Adam from Bikes not Bombs.

Dark images are often used to pick up on 'dark' subject matter. The effect is to make one have to look more closely at the image (and possibly, therefore, think more about it). There were many darker images, many too large to easily show but this one by Agnes Dherbeys I found compelling.

Thai Troops , Agnes Dherbeys

Dark is not always associated with negative subject matter though. This one is certainly fun although needs careful looking .

Pedro, Mexico City, Ed Freeman

A brief survey of the numbers of light and dark images showed a roughly equal number, with rather more in the middle with a mainly mid-range of tones.

Learning point:

• match your light to your subject matter
• sometimes a contrast of subject and light makes for an interesting image
• high key images are easier to read

BJP–February 2011

1. Morel fighting for copyright.  On-going argument about copyright of images shown on the web including social network sites.  Implications – copyright belongs to the photographer and that info does not have to be embedded in the image to be valid under US law.
2. Bran Symondson.  The best view of heaven is from hell. Fascinating surreal photos from Afghanistan including soldier with roses wrapped around his gun. An exhibition that i would have loved to have seen. Mixtures of colour and drab, soft and harsh.

3. Ground Control. Still photos taken in association with the BBC’s Human Planet. Timothy Allen joined the BBC film crew as a stills photographer and took 8Tb’s worth of images some of which are published in the book The Human Planet. http://humanplanet.com/timothyallen

4. Smudge. Ok I am not offended by these but I just don’t ‘get’ them.Scary and disturbing.  A mixture of photography and body art / dressing up. Borland is an Australian photographer working in the UK. ‘definitely about subversion’ (Borland), ‘I don’t know where it all comes from’ (Borland).Oddly enough I had my teenage daughter, who is into art and goth and she shaid 'disturbing'.

5. A man for all seasons. An interview with John Stewart. Mainly monochrome, highly detailed and sensual still-lifes. This I would be ecstatic to be able to emulate. ‘silence, emptiness and reduction’ (Susan Sontag, The Aesthetics of Silence.) http://www.john-stewart-photography.net shows an amazing collection of images with a limited range of contrasts that allows for a long period of fruitful contemplation.