Chiaroscuro light

February 21, 2020 Hal

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Chiaroscuro, in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. – Wikipedia

Some of the recent pictures I’ve taken of backyard birds during early morning and late afternoon reminded me of chiaroscuro light used by the renaissance painters. It’s given me a new perspective on the use of light as it relates to wildlife photography. When it’s available I’ll try to make the most of it. But, please don’t get me wrong – I’m no Rembrandt. I can’t even draw stick figures! Although I do hope you enjoy the birds.

My set up is pretty simple. There are numerous places in our yard for birds to perch along with woods about 50 feet past our yard. We put birdseed and suet out all year. (I make my own suet) Shooting early or late with a super tele-photo (600mm) with the woods that far behind the subject renders the background very dark and totally out of focus. I expose for the highlights. Settings usually range as follows: f6.3-8, 1600-2500 ISO, 1/125-1/500 second, minus 1-2 f-stops. Now you try it.

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