Night and Day

Having worked in the twilight for some time now, I still cant quite put into words the feeling one gets after the sun goes down. There is often a sense that something is about to happen. Not scary or dangerous, but a heightened awareness one doesn’t feel in the daytime. As a kid it was time to come inside, but I always wanted to stay out longer. Of course once I began making pictures, I had a perfect excuse to stay out and experience the shift from day into night.

For night photography, in particular urban scenes, there is a perfect moment for a photograph when the sky dims and the lights come on. Captured too soon, and the lights have no effect; too late, and there is too much contrast, and the lights will appear too bright. Often, it's a waiting game and then a case of working quickly to capture the decisive moment. Most of my early work was done this way, but not without disappointments, such as lights not coming on after waiting all day or cars parking in front of your scene, something that happens very often!

One thing I have always liked about low-light work is that once the sun rises, the mind can rest; there is closure, unlike a street photographer who is always looking and ready with the camera. Breakfast never tasted so good after a night of photography, followed perhaps by a bit of sleep, unless that is, you like sunrises!