Day 17: Painting with light

Photography is all about light. So in this challenge, I was tasked with finding creative ways to light up my subject and give it a twist using different light colours and sources.

I was encouraged to use any light source. The brief stated, “whether it’s an on-camera flash, radio-controlled speed light, projector, or hand-held flashlight, this photo challenge is all about creatively lighting your subject with specific intent.”

I own an external flashlight, and I have a couple of light sources I could use, but I wanted to be more creative with my composition.

Off I went for yet another night walk scouting for subjects, areas and colourful lights. I definitely didn’t want to shoot Christmas lights as this is done a million times before.

But who said I couldn’t use Christmas lights to light my subject?

After soaring the streets of South London for more than an hour, snapping pictures at various locations, I found a corner shop that spoke to my heart. Coffee! I liked its aesthetic and the fact it had the menu printed on the outside wall. It was also painted white which meant I could use it as a canvas.

I used the flashlight on my camera, along with the traffic lights right outside the shop, and took advantage of the massive Christmass tree that was right across the street.

The combination of red, blue and green lights helped me paint the wall with colours that I later enhanced in post. The fact that a cyclist wearing complimenting colours decided to stop right in the middle of the shot when I was about to snap the picture, made the whole composition even more interesting.