Light Entertainments

Sun Dog

Continuing on from Woodsys post about the eerie noctilucent lights over his hometown, here are a few photos I have taken over the years which capture some fleetingly beautiful sky effects. As I have become more and more obsessed with photography and with the predominance of phone photography, having a camera with me constantly, means I am always able to capture odd moments in time. Historically, the whole process of analogue cameras meant that by the time the device was wound on, focussed, exposed correctly and ready to click, the moment had passed. Autofocus on cameras and the digital revolution meant that a photographer could point and shoot great quality photos in seconds, without having to worry about aperture, exposure, film speed or available light.

Golden Hour in Austria

Camera phones take this experience even further, with modern phones being sold on the basis of camera sophistication and quality alone. Anyone can expect to take a good to great quality photo, anywhere and at anytime with the most basic phone camera, due to the complexity of the software and the quality of the hardware.

Blue Hour on Cornish Beach

Apps on the various phones exploit this technology, some even approximating the look and feel of an SLR style analogue camera, giving control over every aspect of the traditional film process. I use an app which prompts me to take a photo every day, with various challenges of theme, but also reminds me of one of the crucial times of day to shoot.

Rainbow light over Beacon Hill

In order to maximise the best light available for landscape photography, photographers aim for two periods during the day - the 'Golden Hour' occurs just after sunrise and before sunset, when the sun is low on the horizon, creating a warm glow. The 'Blue Hour' arrives shortly before sunrise and after sunset, when the sun's position just below the horizon produces cooler blue tones in the atmosphere.

Classic Rainbow

I can't admit to being prepared enough or capable enough to get good shots in these ideal periods, but occasionally, I have found myself with camera or phone in hand and able to grab brief moments, such as rainbows or sun dogs or the zodiacal light in the night sky.

Partial Sun Dog with iphone

One of my favourite pastimes is shooting at night with a long exposure and picking up the sodium lit glow from the streetlamps, streaked by the lights of passing cars.

Light painting from the back of the Woodsymobile

Light Streaks on the A59