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All in the light

Due to some recent building work, I'm been stuck working from home for the last four weeks. Which is both a blessing and a curse - being stuck in the same room for days at a time with little human contact makes one a little stir crazy. Cabin fever is real, people.

Anyway, this has led me to heading out for a walk after dinner of an evening; for exercise, for fresh air, for something other than the constant four walls. I have the benefit of both the South Downs and English Channel being a five minute walk from my house, depending on the direction I walk in, both of which are an ideal prescription for being stuck indoors for days on end.

On a recent walk along the clifftop to Rottingdean, the sun was getting low and heading towards setting. Currently, there's a lot of long dry grass up there, and this created a wonderful contrast where tall bright stalks rose up above the heavily shaded undergrowth. I'd actually gone along there with my camera and a superzoom lens expecting some insect life roosting for the evening, so once again my idea had been shattered by inspiration.
Picture info: Lumix G9, Voigtlander f/0.95 17.5mm, ISO200, f/2, 1/3200 sec

I was amazed by the drama and atmosphere shots like this conjure.
And so a couple of evenings later, I was back out and on the lookout for similar lighting and similar scenes, albeit on a different part of the clifftop.

Picture info: Lumix G9, Voigtlander f/0.95 17.5mm, ISO200, f/2, 1/3200 sec

Picture info: Lumix G9, Voigtlander f/0.95 17.5mm, ISO200, f/2, 1/8000 sec

It also led me to the classic view of Saltdean that I've photographer I-don't-kn-w-how-many-times, an overlook that includes the English Channel, Saltdean Undercliff, Brighton marina, and the rocks at low tide. And here once again I was in awe at how the low sun had thrown such wonderful relief across the landscape, bringing detail out into such sharpness thanks to the increased contrast.
Picture info: Lumix G9, Voigtlander f/0.95 17.5mm, ISO200, f/8, 1/640 sec

It has been said many times before, but Golden Hour (that hour before and after sunrise/sunset) really does provide some amazing opportunities for photography, providing superb light that can lift a rather flat composition into a completely difference plane. If you're struggling with so-so images, try getting there early morning or waiting until the end of the day - the results may surprise you.
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