Light is probably the most important element in the work of a photographer and much is made of the perfect time to catch the perfect light. We have no control over sunlight often our main source of illumination nor the weather that has a direct impact on the amount of light that reaches us. We have to work with what we have at any one time and having an awareness as to the changes during daylight hours can help us produce the best images from the available light and how it illuminates our subject.
The garden is aligned East/West and the camera is pointing approximately East.
The camera was set up on a tripod and remained in the same place throughout the day. The aperture was set to f9 with the camera setting the shutter speed. The ISO chosen was 400 to allow for a fast shutter speed to 'freeze' any movement in plants or trees. All images were shot 'RAW' and all received the same treatment.
The first image was taken at 0630 approximately 90 minutes after sunrise as I wanted the sun to be above the horizon line to cast shadow.
As can be seen the sun is positioned that throws long shadows down the garden but there is sufficient light to retain the detail in the walls surrounding the pond.
In the second shot which was taken at 0744 the sun is now higher in the sky and the shadows thrown by various elements are more distinct. The light remains 'soft' allowing for the retention of detail.
The third shot was taken at 0818 and although this is only about 30 minutes later than the preceding shot the garden is more brightly lit and shadows are quite marked. As can be seen from the sky the cloud cover has lessened allowing greater illumination from the sun.
Taken at 0848, again a 30 minute gap, the sun is now quite bright and once more the loss of cloud cover ensures the light is more direct and detail is more pronounced. However there is loss of detail in the 'Three Graces Statue to the left of the pond in the raised gravelled area although the 'loss' is not so great as to remove all detail.
A little over 3 hours after the last shot (it is now 1153) the sun is high in the sky and, without cloud cover, offers a bright light that is great for shadows and some detail but there is a price to be paid as the detail in the raised garden and the flagstones to the foreground
The sun is now almost at its zenith (1251) and although there is some cloud cover it is not covering the sun at this moment. Shadows are weak and highlighted areas have little or no detail
This image was taken almost 3 hours after the preceding one and the position of the sun is lighting the whole of the garden and although there remains definition in shadowed or heavily detailed areas mucf what we see now looks 'washed out' particularly the elements of the raised garden.
It is now 1736 and the sky is largely covered by cloud. The sun is casting the shadow of the house across the patio but still successfully lights the east end of the garden.
At 1920 the sun is now obscured by the house but manages to light the far end which, at this position of the sun comes into its own. If there is a red/gold sunset the top of the silver birch ( the large tree in the top centre of the image) catches the dying rays and reflects the colour.
The whole exercise provided me with an opportunity to see and examine the subtle changes in light over a period of about 13 hours and to appreciate the 'differences' in the way that the garden appeared. One lesson learned is that studying the light changes in any particular area is well worth the effort. Two of my main interests in photography are landscapes and churches. Both change and benefit from the movement and light of the sun. Landscape is perhaps obvious but any church, but particularly those with stained glass windows, can become a 'magical' place, ever changing, as the sun makes its way across the heavens.
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