It’s generally accepted that naturally lit outdoor subjects photograph better in the soft morning or evening light – the light during the golden hour. Does this mean that we should all put our cameras away or head indoors with them during the middle of the day when natural light is less favorable? Certainly not!
Natural light during the middle of the day can have dramatic effects on an image’s mood and story.
The Texas sun can be extremely unforgiving, especially during the long “dog days” of summer. This image was taken on such a hot day during the lunch break from a regional photography convention. I took advantage of the break for a short photo walk.
The walk that resulted in this image, for me, is much more memorable for the birds that attacked me as I inadvertently wandered too close to one of their injured comrades. This image also conjures up the feeling of the intense summer sun still relentlessly pounding down on those lucky enough to have survived the bird attack.
While it might be assumed that the story in this image is that of being stranded in the middle of an ocean with no wind to move the boat, it was actually taken on a pedestrian bridge in the middle of land-locked Dallas, Texas. Yes, I do like taking pictures of bridges, including those taken while standing on the bridge.
So, by all means, continue to take or make photographs during the day. Maybe use lens filters or shade or other ways to disperse the intense light. Clouds work well for that purpose as well. There are stories to be told no matter the quality or kind of light nature has to offer. Just be careful of the birds.