On Light #2

And Why It’s Never Just Technical

I often get asked what kind of light I like to shoot in.

The golden hour? Cloudy skies? Hard contrast?

The answer isn’t a type of light.

It’s a mood.

I look for light that doesn’t scream.
That doesn’t try too hard.

The kind of light that slips through a door frame.
That touches a shoulder in a way no one notices.
That fades while you’re still figuring out the frame.

For me, light isn’t about exposure or sharpness.
It’s not about highlighting the subject.

Sometimes it is the subject.

And sometimes it’s what holds everything together –
quietly, patiently, barely visible.

That’s the kind of light I keep following.
Not to master it.

Just to stay with it a little longer.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand 2024