The Brightest Spot and Reflected Light Images

11/12/2008 09:06:31 PM · #1

I have been wanting to start a thread for images that focus on reflected light and images where the brightest spot in your image has some sort of critical component, usually the subject. There are a few photo groups on Flickr that focus on these subjects and I really enjoy these images.

If reading my ramblings bother you, you can skip to the end for the abridged version of the type of images to post. :P

The first group is based on reflective light, here is a group called "No flash Corner." These images focus on specific type of reflected light where the light is equal or atleast adds highlights to passerbys. It often creates very nice natural contrast.
Here are some DPC examples of reflected light images.

Here is the same Flickr group but presented on flickriver and sorted by the most popular. It shows the best examples first, mine are at the bottom lol!

So how do you find these spots? Outside of large cities it can be tougher but not impossible, you just need to look around for the right things. Often I look for tall buildings with glass windows. The best are facing directly East and West so in the morning and evening the light will bounce off the building like light off of a mirror, or a reflector. Many times you will find splatterings of light as the sun hits windows that aren't evenly shaped and sends the light down onto the street. Are you ever walking down the street and surprised to find yourself momentarily blinded by light? If you are looking down as you walk and see multiple shadows of yourself at different angles? Thats what you are looking for, look on the ground or around you and probably there will be a bright spot on the ground, watch as people pass through these and light comes across their face. I hope this doesn't sound too complicated, its just looking for a specific kind of light. :)

The other light/composition technique I want to see images of is having a critical piece of your image in the brightest part of the photo. Here is a Flickr group called the Brightest Spot and its photostream on FlickRiver. This is Easier to find and is a very effective way to make a dynamic image. Here are some examples from DPC.

And to show this is really effective outside the urban setting look at the recent winner from the mirrors challenge.

If I offered advice on how to shoot these types of shot it can be very easy to get the proper area exposed. Sometimes I just point the camera at the sky and lock that exposure, then look for interesting spots where the light is bright and watch the rest fall into darkness. Or if that doesn't work I will use the spot meter and expose for the brightest spot, maybe the light off the wall and then lock the exposure.

These techniques of looking for reflected light and brightest spots do a few things for me. One, it keeps me attentive for interesting light whole I walk around, I find myself looking for glints of light and how the light filter down between buildings. Second it slows me down, and pre-setting the exposure gets rid of another variable to worry about when the moment arises to click the shutter. Also for those that are worried about shooting candids, it can put a shift in the brain from putting the focus on the people and onto the light. Looking for these spots made it easier for me to shoot people I don't know.

Although I talked mostly about candids, the photos you post do not need to be of people but of reflected light and images that have a focus of interest on the brightest spot.
If you have older photos that you feel fit please post them.
Since this isn't a monthly challenge don't feel you need to comment on everything to post, but it would be nice to leave a few comments if you can.
There is no sign up, just post when you find something that fits.
This is also an area for discussion, if you have tips or links you find please post those also.
Have fun.
Joe

11/12/2008 09:23:14 PM · #2

A few more examples
Brightest Spot:

Reflected Light:

Message edited by author 2008-11-12 21:23:30.

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

11/13/2008 03:02:06 PM · #3

More Bright Spots!

Add some photos, you know you have some. :)

Mephisto

Nikon Coolpix A

11/13/2008 03:38:55 PM · #4

doode, great idea, we should totally make it a side challenge!

here's a few of mine i thought would fit:

and some from my favorites:

damn, actually that's about the only one i found, though they were many i wasn't sure if it was reflected light or not, it's sometimes hard to figure out if it's reflected or just diffused direct light...

eta: nevermind, i guess the ones i posted above are all "brightest spot", so yeah there are more of those in my favorites like
[thumb]540271[/thumb]

still not sure what falls under the "reflected light" rule...

Message edited by author 2008-11-13 16:00:26.

11/13/2008 03:50:50 PM · #5

Brightest spot:

by Nick Hinch

I'll find more. :-)

11/13/2008 03:55:59 PM · #6

pineapple

Kinda a brightest spot sort of thing, but more metered and exposed for the dark, yielding the two very bright sections. So maybe not exactly what you were looking for, but a very good use of light just the same.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/13/2008 04:19:46 PM · #7

Alright, some people added some photos!!! Thanks. :)
I was thinking this could be a place to post images of our own as we take them too. These can also be challenge entries posted here. unlike other side challenges that are a month long, I would like this thread to be more like the blur thread which people just post when they find something that fits.
Thanks for posting, I hope more join.

A reflected light shot from SF
I will add that if you have a shot that you think fits, go ahead and post it. I am pretty lax on rules.

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

11/13/2008 04:30:07 PM · #8

Here are a couple of mine, hope they fit the spirit of this thread.

Message edited by author 2008-11-13 16:31:50.

Iraklis

Nikon D90

11/13/2008 04:58:43 PM · #9

Does this count...?

Message edited by author 2008-11-13 16:59:13.

11/13/2008 05:09:20 PM · #10

Yep, I think that's an excellent example.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

11/13/2008 05:11:15 PM · #11

Yes they all fit very well. Thanks for sharing, I will get to commenting on them tonight. :)

LanndonKane

Nikon D800

11/13/2008 05:20:27 PM · #12

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/13/2008 05:33:00 PM · #13

Excellent info, Joe, on the camera settings - thanks! I shall play the next time I find one of those lovely spots.

Iraklis

Nikon D90

11/14/2008 08:38:22 AM · #14

kolasi

And one of mine again:

Message edited by author 2008-11-14 08:43:53.

salmiakki

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

11/14/2008 10:00:40 AM · #15

gosh what a wonderful collection of images.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/15/2008 11:15:22 AM · #16

Here is a saturday bump with a photo from

Yanko, I am in the middle of crazy work time, but should have some time in a day or so to comment. :)

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

11/15/2008 11:28:44 AM · #17

Does this fit?

LevT

Olympus OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/22/2008 09:50:04 PM · #18

show of hands :)

Message edited by author 2008-11-22 21:52:02.

Retroesque

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/22/2008 10:06:15 PM · #19

I guess this shot is sort of the opposite - the bright spot does not have the point of interest, but I do like what it does...

Sort of (but not really...)

Oh now THIS is one...

LevT

Olympus OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/25/2008 11:33:49 PM · #20

I finally decided NOT to submit it to the Backlighting challenge, so here it comes.

nixter

Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 Lens X-Pro1

11/30/2008 03:28:26 AM · #21

The light here is reflected off some christmas decorations strung up in the mall in the city. They are like huge silver reflectors. Very minimal editing on these, slight levels and curves adjustment and a sharpen.