The 7th Digital Lightroom Photography competition – Capture the Light

This post marks the launch of the 7th Digital Lightroom Photography competition.  The theme of the competition this time around is Capture the Light so for this round we’re asking you to think about natural light and how we, as photographers, can use it to creative and dramatic effect.

There is no restriction on the subject of your photograph, as long as it clearly demonstrates the use of natural light to enhance your image.  Think about lighting direction and the creative use of shadows as well as light.

Keep it simple like the spiders web below, captured with early morning light reflecting on the beads of dew.

Another very effective technique is to use backlighting, shooting into the sun, to create bold silhouettes as in the fisherman photo below.  Flare is always going to be an issue when taking pictures into the sun but flare can be used creatively. If you want to avoid flare however, use a lens hood, choose the smallest aperture you have and extend the shutter speed.   

Alternatively you might consider a well lit landscape.  Landscape photography is all about waiting for the light.  It requires a lot patience but choosing a day with perhaps sunshine and showers in the forecast, as the sun breaks through from behind the clouds, the effect can be very striking.  You might even capture a rainbow.  The Snowdonia image below demonstrates how the cloud in the picture is creating interest by casting shadows over the landscape.

It doesn’t have to be daytime in order to use natural light to create a dramatic picture of course. Night shots that take advantage of moonlight, create a whole new range of creative opportunities.  These kinds of pictures can be challenging technically but the rewards  can be huge.

The prize for the best photograph will be the complete Topaz Labs Collection

The closing date for this round is  Friday 7th March 2014.   Therefore you have nearly three months in which to think about how to capture natural light in an eye catching and creative image.

We look forward very much to your entries. Please read the competition rules and  submission guidelines carefully before submitting you entry. Good luck!