DAY 154

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Creating a Mood

HOW DOES THIS MAKE YOU FEEL?

Photography is an art form that, if done well, is certain to elicit emotions in a viewer and create a mood. Looking at a properly composed picture of palm trees along a tropical beach beside a crystal clear, aquamarine ocean as the sky shimmers under the reds and oranges of a spectacular sunset is sure to take a person’s breath away. But what if you’re not in a position to witness such events? The next best thing is to be on the lookout for just the right combination of subject and lighting conditions that will produce similar feelings.

Look for what nature offers you, like a full moon behind tree branches as they’re illuminated by the sunrise. The image can be surreal, looking almost eerie as the moon is framed by branches slithering through the sky.

Photographing the scene can be tricky, due to low light levels. Use a long telephoto lens with image stabilization, and crop in the viewfinder to eliminate the tree trunk. The result is an image guaranteed to create a mood. —WTD

Photo © Bill Diller.