Photography | Magic Light

How do you capture that fabulous light when photographing nature?
With a sprinkling of magic!

There are five types of natural light, as far as wildlife photographers are concerned: front light, side light, back light, diffused sunlight and… Magic Light. The first four are pretty much self explanatory. Magic Light is a little bit harder to pin down but if you manage to capture it on camera, always worth the wait. 

It’s also known as ‘God’s light’, which seems fitting when you notice the way the light seems to ‘fall’ on your subject, as if sent directly from the heavens, surrounding them in a glowing halo. But if we’re accepting that The Big Man has more important stuff to do than giving our photographs a lovely finish, where does it come from?

Magic Light tends to occur at times of change, being most in evidence at the change of seasons, as well as as dusk turns to night or sunrise into morning. It’s also more obvious as the weather changes, so just after it has rained or when there is interplay between the sun and the clouds. It’s impossible to pin down exactly what Magic Light is but what it looks like is, well, like magic… as if someone is shining a torch down through the clouds onto the landscape below. Rather than a light which illuminates its subject in various ways, Magic Light can often be the subject of a picture itself.

Do not make the mistake of muddling Magic Light with the ‘Magic Hour’. The Magic Hour refers to the hour after sunset and the hour before sunrise when photography takes on the warm colours of the sun. And Magic Hour itself is not to be confused with the Golden Hour, which occurs the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise. If you take a few pictures around these times, you’ll see that Magic Hour photos have more bluey pink tone and Golden Hour photos have more golden yellow about them. As we say, it’s difficult to pin down, but so worth taking the time to get to know these variously tinted lights a little better so that you can use them in your photography, whether you’re a semi-pro or simply snapping pictures on your phone. 

At the change of seasons, wander outside with your camera in the mornings and evenings, maybe during the Magic Hour, even, and see if you can capture a little of the magic for yourself. 

The photograph above was taken by Finn Beales in the Redwood National and State Parks, California. It’s just one of the photographs featured in our Gallery this month, which we’ve called ‘To Dramatic Effect’. The picture is taken from Let’s Get Lost: The World’s Most Stunning Remote Locations curated by Finn Beales (White Lion Publishing). The March issue is in shops now or you can buy from our online store. 

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Learn | Street Photography Tricks

All you need to be a street photographer is a camera (or even just a camera phone) and some free time. Here are five tricks to try that will help improve your pictures instantly

1. Get down low. Putting your camera actually on the pavement captures a whole new perspective that none of us usually sees. Seeing the world from a pigeon’s perspective (see above) adds a completely different dimension to your photographs. 

2. Try a tilt. This works particularly well with straight lines, such as buildings. Frame your focal object centrally and upright and then tilt your camera 45 degrees before taking the picture for a slightly more interesting shot. 

3. Find a setting and then wait for the subject. If you spot a fabulous backdrop, find a good place to stand to capture the photo in the best light and with the best composition and then wait… for the right person to walk into shot. This often makes for a much better photo than when you focus on looking for a subject primarily and let the background take care of itself. 

4. Get a grid. Most camera phones let you turn on a ‘grid’ on your camera in your settings and it’s really helpful for composing a picture. The grid gives you nine equal squares and you want to place your subject on any of the corners of the central square, leaving space in the rest of the image - this is known as the ‘rule of thirds’, as you’re filling one third of the grid, on the left or right, and leaving the other two thirds emptier. Try it and you’ll see.

5. Look for leading lines or patterns. Leading lines are lines in an image that draw the eye somewhere, so that could be a path, a river, a staircase, a telegraph wire… They can go in any direction or even be curved, but they’ll add depth to your picture. Patterns, particularly repetitive patterns such as those in floor tiles or on a table cloth, also create visual impact. They look great when they seem to have appeared accidentally, or when the pattern is just slightly broken, for example: five brown eggs in a bow and one white one. Just look out for the patterns and lines and have fun! 

Inspired to give it a go? First read our feature on Street Photography, ‘These Streets’, in our November issue, which is taken from the wonderful book Think Like a Street Photographer by Matt Stuart (Laurence King).

More from our November issue…

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Small folk | Fairy Encounters

Do you believe in fairies? The camera never lies…

Have you ever had a fairy encounter? Many people have believed they have over the years, including Arthur Conan Doyle who was famously a firm believer in the Cottingley Fairies, until the girls who took the fairy photos admitted their prank.

More recently, Manchester Met professor of Art Research, John Hyatt, made headlines when he apparently photographed fairies in Whitaker Park, Rossendale, in Lancashire. 

"I was just taking [photos of] sunset through the trees and when I enlarged the photographs later in the studio, I saw these figures," he told the Manchester Evening News back in 2014. "They are not doctored apart from I increased the size of a detailed section of a larger photograph along with the DPI to stop them being just large pixels -- normal size enhancement techniques."

Some swore the tiny creatures with long legs were indeed fairy folk, while others, such as Erica McAlister, an expert in ‘small flying things’ from The Natural History Museum, was more circumspect, albeit in a rather charming way: “My first impression is that they can’t be fairies because there is no wand. But that’s like saying mosquitoes aren’t flies because they don’t look like ordinary house flies. So I had to approach this more taxonomically. Hmmm… maybe they are not fairies at all but rather insects. Small swarming winged insects. Small swarming midges such as chironomids.”

Hyatt replied that “People can decide for themselves what they are. The message to people is to approach them with an open mind," he said. “I think it’s one of those situations where you need to believe to see. A lot of people who have seen them say they have brought a little bit of magic into their lives and there’s not enough of that around.”

We think we can all agree with that. But maybe put that fly swat down… it might be a fairy!

You can see the Rossendale fairies/flies on the Natural History Museum’s website, where McAlister gives her full report on them. 

If you’re planning a magical midsummer for this week, don’t miss our feature on days out in search of fairies, mermaids and more small folk in our June issue, in shops now.

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How to Instagram flowers

This month in our series on what really goes on inside a home, we fill the house with vases and jugs of cut flowers. Turn to page 114 of the May issue for more of Clare Gogerty's Home Truths: Flowers. 

Stylist and blogger Emily Quinton is a whizz on Instagram and posts flower pictures daily. This is how she does it:

1. Choose flowers carefully – not all photograph well. The more you photograph, the more you get to know them. My favourites are stocks, ranunculus, peonies, anemones, tulips and roses.

2. Photograph in natural light. Flowers do not look good under artificial lights. If shooting outside, early morning and late afternoon/early evening are best. If shooting indoors, move near a window to get the best light.

3. Use different vessels and backgrounds to make the most of one bunch of flowers.

4. Choose lighter coloured flowers. They are easier to capture than dark ones. Dark red roses are my nemesis!

5. When flowers are nearly over, cut off the stems and lay down to make flat pictures. Gather plates, linen and notebooks as props. To make flowers last longer, pop in the fridge or in a cool room. Some flowers don’t last like this but peonies, roses and ranunculus will.

Follow @emilyquinton, on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest 

More from the May issue:

Read more gardening posts: 

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The Simple Things on Instagram

After something of a hiatus, The Simple Things is back on Instagram! 

Snapping the simple pleasures in life, Team Simple Things will be sharing snippets of our days - whether that's putting together the magazine or the places, people and sights we see outside work, we're capturing the snapshots of life that make us smile. 

Follow @simplethingsmag and expect regular instalments of beautiful, bitesize pics.

Competition: Win a personalised photo album (archived)

WIN! We have teamed up with Inntravel to offer you the chance to win this beautiful handmade leather album, complete with a vintage map cover of your choice of anywhere in Great Britain. The perfect way to remember the moment – and the place!

Win a fabulous personalised photo album courtesy of Inntravel, the Slow Holiday people. Memories of family, friends, and special times and places are far too precious to be kept on a hard drive or stashed in a drawer. Give them the love they deserve - with a beautiful and personal photo album.

Our good friends Inntravel are offering one reader the chance to win a stunning personalised Atlas & I photo album. The album is handmade using only the very finest leather and comes with your own choice of vintage map cover - choose any location in Great Britain. The album has 50 pages and can hold up to 200 standard (6x4 inches) photos and comes in its own gift box. Remember the moment - and the place, with Inntravel.

To enter, head over and Like the Inntravel Facebook page, then fill out your details.

Competition open to UK residents only, aged 18 or over.

WIN! A Canon EOS 100D Camera with Issue 16 of The Simple Things (closed)

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To celebrate our new Miscellany features ‘Dogs in Blankets’ and ‘Cats on Mats’, The Simple Things has teamed up with Canon to offer you the chance to win an EOS Digital SLR camera. All you have to do to enter is take a photograph of your pet. Whether you have a horse or a hamster, a cockerel or a catfish, we’re looking for a candid shot that reveals your pet’s character and makes us smile.

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The prize is a camera you’ll never want to leave behind. Canon’s 18-megapixel EOS 100D is perfect for beginners who are interested in photography: it delivers superb photos and video, and features an optical viewfinder and touchscreen controls. It’s small enough to take everywhere and ideal for capturing Fido or Tiddles at their playful best. The winner will also receive the 100D’s standard kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm.

Click here now to submit your photograph for a chance to win! The winning image will be chosen by The Simple Things editor-in-chief Jane Toft and photographer Andrew Montgomery.

To find out more about Canon cameras, including the EOS 100D, visit www.canon.co.uk/EOS.

Café Culture

In every issue of The Simple Things, owner of online interiors store Bodie & Fou, Karine Kong, seeks out inspiring spaces to work and play. Accompanied by photographer brother Francois, this month the pair explore Artisan Café in London. From its iconic hammered copper counter to benches made from recycled scaffolding planks, Karine identifies the essential design details to steal for your home! Find out more in issue 14 of The Simple Things.

"Artisan Café is our family’s favourite haunt for various reasons." says Karine. "From my New Zealander husband’s point of view, they make a great coffee. It’s a very different culture and taste compared to the general chains in the UK. My daughter enjoys a toasted bagel after football practice, and for me it’s the interior design that does it."

"The space is filled with natural light and they’ve used reclaimed materials to create a welcoming space with a soft industrial vibe. The floor and benches are made out of wood and scaffolding pipes. The naked hanging shades add an airy feel and can be sourced from junk shops or flea markets. The striking copper counter was designed by artist Tansy Brown-Hovelt and would look amazing in a family kitchen. I love the copper pipes running across the ceiling – a striking feature I’ll use in our kitchen in France when we finally get around to connecting the pump of our American fridge to dispense ice and chilled water."

"Edwin and Magda Harrison decided against nine-to-five jobs after a trip around the world – instead they set up Artisan, launching their first café in Putney. What became more of a five-to-nine job (with a huge learning curve) also became a tribute to their hard work and passion for making the best coffee and providing great service."

"Having been there at various times of the week, I can vouch for the atmosphere. From ladies back from a walk in Ravenscourt Park to teens hanging out after school, families with young kids or freelancers working from their laptops (there’s free Wi-Fi), Artisan Café is a great, inspiring place to hang out." concludes Karine.

Feast your eyes on more inspiring photos of Artisan Café by Francois Kong in issue 14 of The Simple Things.

My City: Rue Cavallotti art

Writer and photographer Nichole Robertson shows us round her favourite free art show in the city of Paris. It occurs twice a day on rue Cavalotti (close to Monmarte) at dawn and closing time...

Fall in love with more of hidden Paris inside Issue 9.

The carpet that caused a stir

We were chatting with wedding photographer Emma Case recently about all the special weddings she has attended, and we wanted to share one of her stories with you today. This is a wedding tale with a difference, as it is less about the beautiful wedding of Jen & Chris as a whole (which you can see here) and more about reactions to a particular photo. This photo, of the staircase is Jen's house, which Emma chose to present at the Folio tour.

Here is Emma's explanation as to why she chose it:

This image is from Jen and Chris' wedding in April... it's Jen's Nan's house which Jen and Chris now live in (and where Jen and all her bridesmaids got ready in the morning) For some reason I just really love this picture.  The stillness of the stairs... constantly there... so many events, babies' born... celebrations got ready for, weddings, funerals... so many different outfits and shoes passed over that amazing carpet... so much history... :)

Lots of people had a lot of nasty things to say about this photo in the wedding community, so Emma sent Jen an explanation of what was happening, here is a small extract from Jen's reply*:

The carpets although not to every persons taste & although worn & thread bare in some parts I have elected not to change. We love them. When I think about my childhood in this house so many memories relate to the carpet! As children my younger brother & I played hopscotch on the carpet pattern, we used to slide down the stairs on our bums (& then get told off), we used to roll on the floor in the hall with the dogs, we used to sprawl out on the front room floor & do jigsaws with Nana, we have had countless family photos in the living room – kids all lined up on the floor whilst adults sat on the sofa, there have been many Christmas trees with presents piled on the carpet underneath. Ironically my Nana remembers these things too, it’s her short term not long term memory she loses. I adore vintage things, this carpet is as vintage as it gets! When Chris & I moved into the house we had to move a lot of Nanas stuff out (people collect a lot of crap when they live in a house for more than 60years). Slight confession some of the things my mum put into charity bags I rescued. I kept some of Nanas blouses, pleated knee length skirts, leather & suede lined handbags & floppy felt hats which I love to wear & use! Like you & your photos I am confident enough to choose my own style, I don’t have to conform to anyone else’s ideal of what I should wear or look like & it’s pathetic when people feel the need to mock that individuality. I look back at photos of Nana when she was my age & think “God she looks great”! When I wear her clothes I can’t help but think of her & think what she achieved in life. Not everybody sees inanimate objects the way you do, some people look at on old hat & see an old hat. Like you I like to think about where it has been, what it has seen. The rips & tears give it character, they are the story & that is what makes it uniquely beautiful. This is why for Chris & I you were the perfect photographer. With our wedding you captured the sentiment & beauty of the things around you with such a natural ease. I don’t even think you realise how spot on you got it. We put so much thought into the things we decided to include in our wedding, the objects you photographed were belongings we had carefully selected for their story & sentiment & a lot of them were influenced by my wonderful Nana Muriel. 

The old china tea set in the cabinet belonged to my Nana. She gifted it to Chris & I when we got engaged because she knew I collected tea cups from charity shops.

The old leather bound books which I stacked on the tables belonged to my mum & uncle as children. Nana used to read them to my brother & I when we were little.

The old music reel which we had to peel away from Pete, belongs to my mum, she used to dance around the house to it as a teenager in the early 70’s.

The old vintage leather suitcase which we stacked the cards in belonged to my great granddad. God knows the places that that has been & seen. When mum found it had his old ration books & RAF papers in it.

The old sewing machine, my Nana tried to teach me to stitch with it when I was a girl. 

The old Guernsey Tomato crate we found in the garage full of Granddads old gardening tools covered in cob webs. Also Chris once grew a ridiculous freaky tomato plant which grew taller than he is & tomato plants were the speciality of Chris’ Nona who grew hundreds in Italy.

The lemon cheese favours were homemade by my mother from an old family recipe. My Nana used to make it & we would spread lashings of it on toast when we had breakfast here as kids.

The old school desk was a present to me on my Birthday from my parents when I was 8 or 9. My dad rescued it from a tip & polished it up.

My something blue, borrowed & old was my Nanas own Diamond & Sapphire engagement ring. I remember her on the day holding my hand, noticing it & saying “ooo this looks just like the ring I used to have”! She was genuinely happy it was being used.

The magic thing is Emma, I didn’t even ask you to take photos of these things, you just did it! Chris & I adore these photos they are something so personal to us. They are absolutely beautiful pictures of such treasured sentimental belongings.

On the morning of my wedding day, my house was full of my favourite ladies, we were all so excited & happy, the adrenaline was pumping. I was running late & I was a tad overwhelmed. I remember taking myself off upstairs to the bedroom (which was once my Nanas room & then my Mums & is now mine) to start doing my make-up. I felt too excited & jittery to even start my make-up. So I turned the radio on & decided to just take a few minutes to breathe. It was my wedding day! I was about to marry my best friend. I was feeling incredibly lucky (I even feel tingly now as I re-live how happy I was feeling that morning). The sun was shining for what felt like the first time in weeks, I realised that I had the best friends & family & they were all going to be there at the church waiting to celebrate with us. I was just completely overcome with joy & excitement. I remember vividly that the song on the radio was Jason Mraz “I Wont Give Up On Us”, the words of that song at that moment felt so appropriate. Chris & I both come from divorced parent families & one of the reasons Chris & I had put so much emphasis on my Grandparents is that we decided that their marriage is the type of marriage we want for ourselves. My Granddad died 10 years ago. Even now my Nana cannot talk about him without telling us just how wonderful he was, what a good man he was. They loved each other unconditionally. They had such a good partnership through thick & thin, richer, poorer, in sickness & health. They loved each other even after death parted them. They had a long & happy life together (I’m not sure how many exactly but I do remember a family photo on the carpet for a golden wedding anniversary). I want that so much for Chris & I. They are our role models. 

As I was having this little epiphany on my wedding morning, I could hear my mum & bridesmaids chatting & giggling downstairs. I could hear Lily the 2 year old flower girl looking for Molly the cat & at this moment this overwhelming sense of calm came over me. With every ounce of sincerity I have to tell you, the thing I decided to do then was to go & sit at the top of the stairs!! Seriously!! Cross my heart & hope to die honest!! I sat on the top step for about 5 minutes & just listened to everything going on around me. For those few minutes I was on my own & I was so peaceful. 

When you first sent us the link to the photos, I couldn’t help but notice that photo. I didn’t think it would be a particularly exciting photo to anyone else but I think you should know Ems that photo completely takes me back to one of the most precious moments of my day & I am sure it will turn out to be one of the most precious moments in my life. It was at that moment in the day when I thought “today I’m getting married to my best friend & it’s going to be friggin perfect”!!! 

If this story touched you like it did us,tell us the story behind a special object kept in your home in the comments below.

***Spot Emma Case in this month's issue of The Simple Things out today!

*Read Jen's full reply here.

Capturing Childhood with Kat Goldin

Blogger extraordinaire, whiz with the hook and needles, and camera pro Kat Goldin (of Slugs on the Refrigerator fame) has stopped by to tell us a little about her new book 'Crochet At Play' and share some insider tips on how to take great outdoor photos this spring.

Tell us about your new book…

Crochet at Play is a collection of 30 hats, scarves, clothes and toys for kids to enjoy. I was inspired by my children and the amount of fun they get out of my crochet. In the spirit of using blankets to build dens, I wanted to bring a collection of playful designs together in one book. From wolf cardigans to baby ballet slippers there are projects for children from newborn to age six. Whether you want to add to the dressing up box or create beautiful garments with a fun twist, Crochet at Play is packed full of inspirational projects. Its published by Kyle Books and out in April.

What inspires you to pick up a camera?

When my eldest child Ellis was born I wanted to share pictures of him with my family in America. I learned as I went along and my love of photography grew. These days I’m inspired by not only my children but nature, art and craft in my photography. Photographing someone or something you love inspires you to make those photographs the best they can be. I love how looking down the lens at my children helps me really see them and notice the small details that make up our lives together.

How did the Capturing Childhood project come about?

My business partner, also named Kat, sent me a message one afternoon with the idea for the courses in a nutshell. I didn’t hesitate before saying yes; amazing photography, using your camera to its full potential and recording the intimacy of family life are all topics I’m passionate about. We very quickly developed our ideas and opened the virtual doors to a warm welcome from the online community. In the ten months we’ve been running our business we have been continually impressed by the work and improvement show by our students – they really do take our lessons to heart and shine.

What are your main tips for someone picking up a camera for the first time?

Notice where the light is coming from and move to capture your subject in the best light available. Imagine the photo you want to capture before you bring the camera to your eyes; this will help you to compose the picture as you intend rather than point and shoot. Stay conscious of what it is you love about photos be it subject, light or composition. Remember that every photo you take develops your personal style skills so keep taking photos. They say the first 10,000 photos you take are your worst...so keep shooting!!

Give us your top 3 tips for shooting outdoors...

1. Try shooting in the “Golden Hour” – this is the hour before sunset or the hour after sunrise.  The sun is low on the horizon and should cast everything in a nice even glow.  This is a great time of year for shooting in the Golden Hour, as the sun’s low position means that it lasts longer and it at a more reasonable time of day than summer. If this isn’t possible, try avoiding the midday sun, when shadows are at their harshest.

2. In bright sun, try to photograph in the shade.  This will minimise harsh shadows and squinting. Under a tree, in a forest, in the shadow of a building, next to a natural landscape feature, under the slide, all will help alleviate problems. If you can, position your subject at the edge of the shade with you shooting from the sun so that all of that lovely light can still be part of the photograph.

3.Put the sun behind you (or as we often say to students put your "bum to the sun"). Angling your subject towards the sun will help light them and create the lovely light sparkles in their eyes known as catchlights.

Tell us your simple things…

That first cup of coffee of the day, brought to me every morning by my 2 year old daughter and her daddy. She sings me "Happy Birthday to You" every single day of the year.

Crochet at Play will be out on 18th of April in the UK, and later in the year in the US, Finland and Holland. Expect some fantastic makes, and more stunning photography!

Click here to sign up to an online course or find out more about Capturing Childhood.