Photography is the dance between light and dark:

The notion of light vs dark can be taken literally. We need some light (bright) parts of the frame, and we need some dark (black) parts of the frame to make an image.

When we are graphing (drawing/painting) with light, we need light and the dark.

We need light from the sun, but shadows from objects which obscure the sun. We need areas with less brightness (darker parts of the frame).

We need our subjects to to be brighter, in order to “pop out” from the scene (figure to ground composition).

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Light vs dark moods in photographs

The notion of light vs dark can also be applied in photography mood.

What kind of mood are you trying to show through your photos? The bright and cheerful? Or the dark and grim?

I say, do both.

As a photographer, make both cheerful and grim photos.

As an aesthetic, keep it simple. The reason I love monochrome is because it simplifies photography. Photography and image making is hard enough; choosing a simple monochrome aesthetic helps me focus more on capturing emotion, mood, and soul in my pictures.

Dance between the light and dark

So morale of the story is this:

Dance between the light and dark with your photography.

Make photos that show the divine comedy of life; both the painful and joyful.

I never desire a life with no pain or suffering. The pain and suffering makes the joyful taste good.

No hunger, no appreciation of food. No heart ache, no appreciation of loved ones. No death, no life.

It’s the basic yin-yang concept of life. You can’t have one without the other.

All is inter connected; discover this deeper truth through your photography.

SHOOT ON,
ERIC

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