Begin Deepening
Module 5

Today it's all about emotion.

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Password: begindeepening

I talk about how I use light and dark to create the emotion and mood in my work. I love natural lighting from the window or a door open and at night I rely on a lamp, overhead light and really basic lights in the house. Because it's black and white I can get away with that. If you're working in color you'll need to watch if the light source makes your images yellow or green or blue. This has to do with the type of bulb it is. It's much more of a technical lesson in lighting to share with you how to fix the color/ white balance. For this course, we just don't have the time to go into that in depth. Just know that if you're using a light source that has a bulb ( rather than just using natural light ) ...it can shift how the photo looks because of the over all tone it has. You can use that to your advantage, or fix it with filters or photoshop, or by adjusting your white balance setting inside your camera.

I rely heavily on light and dark or light and shadow to express the mood and emotion and I also rely on my movement within the frame, my facial expressions and the placement of the objects.

This image is about my need to keep my son safe from real and perceived danger. He is the little glass tomato.

I'm in the dining room near a big window. It's an overcast say so that light is really soft. I love how it's wrapping around the glass really gently. I think that adds to the feeling here. If it was a harsh light source it would have shadows on the table and everything would be more intense to look at. I think a soft caress with the light can suggest the soft caress of a mama's hand on her son's face.

This photo was taking in my house. Black paper taped to the wall, I taped together 8x10 sketch paper together to make a grid on top of the black paper. I draw a chair on that grid with charcoal. I lit this photo with a row of windows that were on the wall facing me. It was a long exposure and I moved my face while the photo was being taken so that I could add a little blur and so I could suggest a feeling of this being internal, emotional, reflective. I love the light. You barely notice it. I like that it's so soft and inviting.

This was created with a Polaroid SX-70 camera. Intentionally out of focus. The film itself develops a bit sepia. It gives a warm feel. It's also steeped in nostalgia with the sepia because it look antiquated which eludes to it having a long history and a story to tell. I consider the tone of the image - similar to the light and dark. It can really add another layer into the mix. Lit with natural light in my house through a doorway.

This one was created with natural light. Love the light along my hip. Love that it's pretty 'Flat" lighting...meaning it's not harsh and is evenly lighting the scene. This isn't completely flat...but very close to it.

This one was created by laying on the floor and using a lamp. I loved how the long exposures captured a ghost like image of me, right next to me.

Your Prompt:

Use light and shadow - to help you convey a mood or emotion.

Use blur, motion, movement to express emotion if you are using your own face or figure in the image.

Post to IG tag me @cjust

xo
*c

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