Chasing Light: From Misty Mornings to Epic Sunsets

It's been three years since I picked up my first camera, and in that time, I've found myself drawn into landscapes that feel like fairytales. I've explored them under a wide variety of lighting conditions: wrapped in mist, bathed in golden light, or caught up in storms. Each experience has been inspiring.

Let me take you on a journey through light and landscapes.

There’s something primal about witnessing a sunrise or sunset. These moments fill us with a sense of wonder. Shooting into the sun as it nears the horizon creates a dramatic effect, enhancing contrasts and saturating colours. The backlighting frames your subject, guiding the viewer's eye to the focus of the image.

When light is diffused, filtering through fog or mist, it softens the scene, eliminating harsh contrasts and creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Mist simplifies scenes, seperating the elements and giving depth. These moments have an ethereal, mysterious quality to them.

Storms bring unique drama to the sky. As the rain falls, particles in the air scatter the light, saturating the sky with rich, warm tones.

Golden hour, the fleeting moment after sunrise or before sunset, floods the landscape with warm, soft light. The tones are rich, heightening the intensity of the scenes.

Blue hour occurs just before sunrise or after sunset, when the sky deepens into a rich blue. When paired with artificial lighting, which emits warm orange hues, the scene has an inviting purple tone.

Twilight has a magical quality, as it creates a burst of colour stretching across the base of the night sky. It’s the moment when the sun is just below the horizon, casting vibrant hues before and after the blue hour.

While most people gaze at the sunrise or sunset, there’s beauty to be found in facing the other way. The soft, warm tones of reflected light create a subtle and appealing glow. This is especially effective on frosty mornings, due to the contrast between cold blue and warm, pinkish tones.

Most landscape photographers focus on the light at the beginning or end of the day, but midday toplight has its own charm. Especially in woodland photography, as it can highlight you subject.

Water acts like a mirror, amplifying and reflecting light back into the scene, adding depth and detail to the landscape.

As the days shorten in the northern hemisphere and cooler weather sets in, all these incredible lighting conditions become more accessible. It's the perfect time to get out there and enjoy nature's ever-changing light show.