Photography, at its most basic level, is just the act of capturing light. It’s not surprising then that you hear people complain about bad light. The first big offender here is an overcast day. The second is the daily kidnapping of the sun. But are these complaints justified?
In some cases, yes, absolutely. As a landscape photographer it can be difficult to make a scene pop when the lighting is flat and clouds smother the sky. But look at it from a different angle and what you get is something resembling a giant softbox which can be great for portraits or street.
In the darkness, there are different challenges. With light being a premium, most people resort to leaving their shutter open for longer which is why street shots with trailing tail lights are common. But Chris Humphreys takes a different approach; he’s not afraid of the dark.
is a wonderfully moody Instragram account. If you have a penchant for cinematic aesthetics, you may get lost in the dim glows that illuminate with intrigue turning everyday subjects into a movie scene reminiscent of ‘Drive’. And unlike most Instagram profiles, which are often thoughtlessly digested, Chris Humphreys invites you to take your time. After all, dark scenes need a bit more attention to ensure you’re not missing any subtle details.
To augment the experience of Chris’ ‘London After Dark’ series, I’d recommend listening to The Chromatics Kill For Love album at the same time and prepare for a journey of escapism. So next time you’re out in the dark with your camera, stay a while. You never know what you might see.
If you need some tips for shooting at night, check out our tips and tricks.
