It's time again to participate in the POB photo competition. And even though I initially thought I would make a new photo, I'm too busy with other things, so I don't have time to implement the idea I wanted to make. Unfortunately? Yes on the one hand, yes on the other hand... the things I have to and want to do differ from each other at some point, but that doesn't mean that the things I have to do aren't fun. Priorities!

Still, I wanted to add another photo this week. Winning is not even that important, participating is more important. I don't think the photo I submit will be a winner, but I still think it is a photo that can contribute well to this week's theme. This week the theme is "LIGHT".

A Source Of Atmosphere, Emotion and Beauty

Light is one of the most important elements in photography. You could say that there is no photo without light. But light is not only a source of visibility, it is also a source of atmosphere, emotion, and beauty. but light is not the only important element in a photo. Most people forget, but without darkness, there is no light! And the dark can be just as telling. Sometimes even more. Where light can flatten out all details somewhat, the darkness in your photo can actually bring out and show the details more. The contrast between dark and light is so important in a photo.

My Photo

To give you an example of what I mean, I took a photo of a field, taken low to the ground with the focus on a small pool of water that was turning orange-gold due to the setting sun. In the background, you see a row of bare trees that are out of focus. The photo was taken with a Nikon D750 and a 50mm f1.8 lens.

This photo shows how you can play with light to create a certain effect. I deliberately chose a low point of view here to make this rain puddle the subject of my photo and to emphasize the contrast between the dark farmland and the sunlit water. The rain puddle reflects the orange-gold light of the sun, giving the photo a warm and vibrant color. This also draws attention to the horizon, where the setting sun has turned the sky the same orange-gold color.

A Natural Transition From Light To Dark

Sunsets often give us a breathtaking palette of colors in the sky. When captured expertly, the trees transform into striking silhouettes against this vibrant backdrop, lending the image a sense of depth and perspective. But the sunset's contribution doesn't end there. It also orchestrates a graceful transition from brightness to darkness, from the top to the bottom of the photo. This contrast accentuates the brilliance of the light reflecting in the rain puddle.

Attracted To Darkness

As you probably gathered from both the image and my story, this photo is not just about light. Darkness plays a crucial role. In fact, the darkness serves to amplify the light in the rain puddle and give it greater meaning. The dark plays an important role in this photo. The dark makes the light more striking and meaningful. I can't say that I always feel more comfortable in the dark, but when we talk about photography, I am definitely attracted to the dark. Why? Dark makes light special. Dark radiates tension and mystery. Darkness harbors secrets, but it is precisely the darkness that provides beautiful rich details in photos. In photography, light can flatten a photo, the contrast between light and dark creates an exciting image with a lot of detail without it looking flat. The dark invites imagination and interpretation.

Darkness Is Just As Important As Light

Darkness should certainly not be seen as a lack of light, but also as a form of expression. Darkness helps you amplify the light and can help you get your message across. It helps you tell your story and is a powerful element in a photo to share emotion. Dark can make your photo more powerful, interesting, and beautiful.

Never Fear Darkness

If you want to take exciting photos and tell more with your photos in a fairly simple way, then I recommend everyone to experiment more with light and dark in their photography. Light and dark are two sides of the same coin and can reinforce each other if you use them properly. If you don't like experimenting and prefer to just take photos, don't forget to pay attention to the dark, because it is just as important and can be just as telling as the light.