To summarise the last 5 months’ Blogs: I’ve reviewed Alister Benn’s construct for impactful images - Luminosity; Contrast; Geometry: Colour; and Atmosphere. When I first discovered this, it resonated strongly with my intuitive approach - hence I adopted it as an invaluable checklist to integrate the key elements of any image both in the field and during processing. As he suggests, not all images contain all five, but aiming to combine at least two or three in any image potentially raises the level of impactfulness of one’s images considerably.

The fifth and last of Alister Benn’s triggers of stimulating photography is Atmosphere. Dictionary definitions of atmosphere include: “the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or creative work”; “the quality of the setting around us which evokes our emotions”; “a surrounding influence or environment”; “the overall aesthetic effect of a work of art”; and terms such as “ambience; aura; climate; and/or mood” can summarise the concept neatly. Photographically, Alister Benn suggests that including such elements as clouds, flowing water, mist, fog, snow, rain, or diffused areas can help to amplify the atmosphere of an image - but these are not a requirement. So as with other elements, attempting to evoke atmosphere in an image that says something to the viewer can be challenging.

Colour, or the choice to use black and white, is possibly the most over-riding factor in a successful image. However, with so many variables that make up what constitutes colour, it can become the most challenging element to master as a photographer, both in taking images in the field and in post-processing.

Geometry is the third of the six elements of sound photography that I’m following these days. The first two, Luminosity and Contrast, have been explored in my last two Blogs. A definition of Geometry suggests it is the branch of mathematics that deals with angles, dimensions and relative sizes of things we see in everyday life. One also learns about many things such as lines, symmetries and similarities including shapes such as triangles, parallelograms, circles, squares and rectangles.

Contrast is the second element of the six-element makeup of Luminosity; Contrast; Geometry; Colour; Atmosphere; and Connection that comprise any image.

“The greater the contrast, the greater the potential. Great energy only comes from a correspondingly great tension of opposites.” Carl Jung

In November, I posted the first of a series of blogs to focus on each element of my newly-found approach: Luminosity; Contrast; Geometry; Colour; Atmosphere; and Connection. Due to my unexpected sabbatical it went no further, so I’ve decided to start again and repeat that blog.

Having adopted an entirely new approach to both my field photography and processing (see my October Blog), this next series of Blogs will each be focusing on one element of this approach: Luminosity; Contrast; Geometry; Colour; Atmosphere; and Connection.

I’m still building up a new quality portfolio post-lockdown, which entails restoring my “muscle memory” using my camera again and identifying new and creative projects. In the meantime, I thought you might be interested in seeing my studio, or rather “the Den” as I call it, together with its story: behind the scenes and where it all happens…

This is a more technical Blog that I’ve wanted to do for some time, and even if you’re not interested in reading the descriptions, you can view the “before and after” images that demonstrate how processing images in Adobe Lightroom can transform otherwise apparently dull images. While I endeavour to capture the optimum image in the field, most images require some processing for a whole host of reasons. I find that this process is as creative as taking the original shot in the field and, for me, adds greatly to the satisfaction of producing finished images.

I confess, this is a more technical blog. However, I still hope you enjoy the images! This month my objective was to run tests on my Carl Zeiss 28-135mm Zoom/Macro lens and D-Xenon 50-200mm telephoto, to create images showing their capability at different settings - hence “New perspectives”. These images are therefore more eclectic subjects rather than themed as they are taken at more unusual distances or closer up than those posted in past months.