Lesson #2: Moody Light - Fog, Mist, Rain, and Deep Overcast

Submit up to three photos showing subjects in moody light. You can use artificial or natural light.

Jim's Comments:
Hi Chuck,

Your standoff is a very creative shot. The lighting is dramatic, but there is one issue that I want to point out about it. The shadow on the soldier is falling on the right side, but the shadow of the spider is on the left. A scene can certainly be lit this way (as in a studio), but I think it would look more correct if there were only one light source instead of two. We all know these are plastic figures, but the implication is an outdoors shot of a solider fighting a giant spider. That suggests one light source -- the sun. But other than that, I like the high key lighting and the placement of the figures in the frame.

The driving rain photo is well done too. It's a creative approach to the assignment. The out of focus headlights make a dynamic element in the picture, and the colors of night provide a nice backdrop to the water drops. I would have used a little more depth of field to get more of the angled windshield in focus, however. I think f/8 or f/11 would have been good.

The puddle picture is a good idea, but I have a prejudice against power lines and power poles. I basically hate them because they are always getting in the way of pictures. You tried to make a artistic shot, and I appreciate your efforts. I think it's a bit light, though, and I'd add some density to give the clouds some detail.

Jim