Let me amplify some comments I have already made. Photography is about capturing light. Pure and simple. Contest: A vs. B. A - great subject in average light. B - average subject in great light. B wins every single time! In general the best times to take pix, the best times to perhaps find some great light are: dawn, dusk, overcast days, storms, when it is raining. I do not care how wonderful your flower is, how beautiful that person is, your car, your house, that waterfall, if you take a pix of it in terrible light will get terrible results. At best a tourist snapshot. In the beginning of each photo class I teach I let the students know that I will be showing them lots of pictures as examples of all the things we are about to discuss. Would be a waste of time to show them bad pictures that did not turn out. I will be showing them great pictures. What does any collection of great pictures have in common? Great light. Probably the single biggest mistake I see on this site is people taking pictures of their flowers when the sun is shinning on them. Too much contrast, faded colors, harsh light. I can hear some whining already: But I don't want to get up at 5am, I want to take my picture right now and have it look beautiful. If you are forced to take a picture of a flower mid day, sun shining, have your friend stand so their shadow covers the flower and/or have them hold their coat up blocking the sunlight. Your results will be 5X times better, guaranteed. All digital cameras, in automatic are designed to take pictures of scenery mid day in the sun. They can do that automatically. Now that we have altered the light or are shooting at another time you may have to step in and take control, leave the automatic mode. It is worth learning how to do this if you are after nicer pictures. One cannot overemphasize the value of light in an image. Ask me questions, please. Gene

gasrocks said:.... I let the students know that I will be showing them lots of pictures as examples of all the things we are about to discuss. Would be a waste of time to show them bad pictures that did not turn out. I will be showing them great pictures.

So you explain in words, for instance, how lighting might increase the perception of depth, without using "bad" photos that have flat light? Such concepts like this would seem very difficult to fully grasp without the "bad" picture that illustrates the contrasts.

There are many times in class when I show the before and after (bad and better) pictures. Flat light is not bad necessarily. Sometimes it is indeed the right light. I do not equate light with perception of depth. There are so many other clues that tells us depth besides light. Not sure what you are trying to say. That I show the wrong pictures in my classes? There is nothing to be learned from just looking at great pictures? Need to show bad ones as well? Guess you are trying to put museums out of business. Gene

Each to his own, but we do learn from our mistakes. Show fifty photos, explain why the bad ones are bad, show fifty photos explain why the good ones are good, I'll bet lessons could be learned from all.

Yes. Sometimes I believe that instead of spending time looking at your pix that came out well and patting yourself on the back you might learn more by spending time looking at the ones that did not come out. In many of my photo classes I suggest that students bring in their photos for us to review. Has potential but most decline. They do not want to get their feelings hurt (Hey, I was that way when I first taking pix.)

Speaking of flat light. Did you see the 3 pix I just posted of rocks in the Garden photos - share your photos section? Very flat light. These are shiny, polished rocks. A difficult photo subject. One needs to match the light to the subject for success. Gene

Matching the light to the subject. Here is a tough one. Small polished pieces of Chinese Opal. Sun first , shade second. Gene

Just coincidence. Yesterday I was bored and went out at 1 PM when the sun was shinning to take pix. Would not normally do that. Went out very early this AM with same equipment. Passed by this flower and remembered it from yesterday. Gene

Why would you even keep the first shot?

The worst light in the world? In my strong opinion. The blotchy shade often found under many trees. You know, the random blobs of light and dark. Horrible. Don't do 'er. If you are out in the sun and try to hide under a tree (here I am talking about taking pictures not, I hope, hiding from lightening,) there usually is a small patch of pure shade just north of the tree trunk. Gene

Had just stopped raining this morning. Dark skies yet. Beautiful light. I try to never take pix when it isn't good light. Some birds from this AM. Cannot imagine what they would look like in the harsh sunlight. Downsized for here, otherwise full frame, unedited.
A - Female Orchard Oriole. Isn't she beautiful?
B - Nuthatch. I consider Black or B&W birds (Junco, Chickadee, Blackbirds....) the hardest to get great pix of. Has to be the right light and exposed perfectly.
C - One legged bird.
D- I lied. She is standing on one leg.
E - Juvenile male Baltimore Oriole. I cannot help myself but all I can think of is teenagers with acne.
Last is a young, puffed up Robin.

Gene

Very nice indeed! I love that nuthatch picture! And the female orchard oriole is a beauty.

I enjoy seeing the comparison shots between bright sun and shade. I struggle with getting that balance between having enough shade to take a nice saturated shot and still show the vibrancy of what I'm taking a picture of. I know I don't take enough pictures to really become adept at it though. Practice, practice, practice!

So many members have such beautiful gardens, plants and flowers. I am truly jealous. If there is one thing I could change it would be to stop people taking pictures midday when the sun is shinning. Please. I took pix from 6AM to 8AM. Heavy fog, no wind, no sun, no mosquitoes. Magic light. Even ordinary things look great in magic light. Of course if it isn't good composition I do press the button down. Resized for here, otherwise full frame, unedited as usual. Gene

I am back after almost a month of no phone or internet. Gave me lots of time to catch up on editing pictures. I am up to the middle of July. Light. 4 early mornings and the last one in the rain. Gene

Gorgeous shots!

Thanks !

From about 15 min. ago.

Aaah, sweet kitty. Kitties are zippy little subjects! Gene, I'm interested to know how you protect your camera in those stormy-but-beautiful-light conditions - are you out there, tripod, multiple lenses and all in the elements?

I own the 2 best tripods ever made and hardly ever use them. Tripod for long exposures like meteors, northern lights and such. Tripod for my biggest, heaviest lens shooting wild birds. I also own the 3 best monopods ever made and use them all the time. If I really want to shoot in pouring ran I have a bracket that clips to the monopod and then to the handle of my umbrella. Gene

Aha, I like the sound of having a clip-on umbrella. I have tried to get myself into the habit of using a tripod and it just didn't stick, so I'm glad to hear they're not essential for flower shots. I have a monopod too, but haven't trained myself to use it regularly, though I will give it another go.