Diffused Light - Week 1

For the next four weeks Photo 52 will be tackling diffused light photography which occurs when soft light, with neither the intensity nor the glare of direct light, is used. The light is scattered and comes from all directions, thus seeming to wrap around objects. Also shadows are less sharply-defined and have a lower contrast.

Shooting through windows or soft, gauzy material or in open shade can soften the light while clouds are an example of a natural diffuser when shooting outdoors. Photographing subjects in light falling through trees is yet another example and was my experiment for this first week.

This past weekend we spent the afternoon at the Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens. My husband and I were seated on one of the wooden chaise lounge chairs shaded by a weeping willow tree while our son played along the waterfront. Despite it being a rather bright afternoon, the willow's canopy provided the perfect diffusion in the series of photos seen below. Though not typically my style - I usually opt for strong contrast and sharply-defined shadows - I actually ended up liking the images. The contrast lies rather in the scenery itself - tall grasses and the East River juxtaposed against Manhattan's skyline of tall buildings.

Please take a spin through the rest of Photo 52's images for this week. Next up is Linda Hooper, my friend and fellow New Yorker.