Lights Out

I went to Washington D.C. last weekend for a ONE conference. While everyone else was hanging out, I took a break to appreciate...lights? Nothing spectacular or anything...just a little experimentation. I think I'm fascinated by a few bizarre things...one of which being lamp light. I tend to always find a way to take a picture of someone lit by lamps....I'm not really sure what it is about them to be honest. I guess I enjoy a more dramatic shadow and effect. Or, more likely, I love the way different types of light evoke completely different atmospheres; Natural soft light versus fluorescent, versus direct harsh sunlight, versus a low 4:00 sun, cascading light, the more generic (what I would call "homey") yellow light (usually in lamps...). Artificial light brightens the darkest of places in any space when there is no sun, and the sun (well, self explanatory), lights the whole sky. I pay close attention to light (as any photographer should), but it never fails to amaze me. A beautiful, streaking soft light through the window, a mid morning sun coming through fog on a crisp morning...breathtaking. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that I associate light with life. The day begins when the sun rises.