Magic Light and the Dynamic Landscape

Introduction to Photography with Light

It has been said many times that photography is painting with light, or that photography is all about light. For Jeanine Leech, the idea of painting with light is a passion. She uses it as a brush for color, texture, and dimension to create dynamic and expressive images. In this book, Leech details her techniques for finding and using the best light to create breathtaking landscape images.

Chasing the Light

To get that special moment, you are often chasing the light. In landscape photography there are moments of defining light. It can be a single moment that may only last a second when the light is just perfect. These moments don’t happen every day but when they do one frame can tell the story with more visual impact than all the others. The ability to improvise, to stop and get the light when these moments occur randomly, is the difference between producing a standard photo and something that truly stand out.

Principles and Techniques

This book provides the basic principles of photography necessary for capturing this magic successfully. Starting with a rundown of the equipment that Leech uses and explaining the core concepts of photography, the book proceeds to detail shooting at different times of day. From the first light at dawn, through midday and onto dusk, Leech provides stunning examples of how each type of light can be used. Each photo in the book is accompanied by the camera settings used to capture it.

The Magic of Light

True magic light is rare. It happens in a fleeting moment, not to be repeated again, lasting only a few minutes or seconds. Its quality is so unique that it changes the color, appearance and ultimately the mood of the subjects it falls upon.

Landscapes and Weather

Part three of the book focuses on the different types of landscapes. First weather is covered. A photo shoot in the Smoky Mountains shows how attention to detail and setting can make the shot. The light and the weather change in mere seconds. As Leech points out, knowing the basics of photography and how to work your equipment quickly is essential. Each of the stunning photos in the book is a testament to this.

Choosing Landscapes and Filters

After that Leech discusses how she chooses different landscapes. Intimate landscapes can be found anywhere. Sometimes making artistic choices like only focusing on a small portion of a setting provides an image with greater impact. Finally, the book covers the use of polarizers, various filters and multiple digital darkroom techniques.