Lesson Four: Don't make lessons...

...unless you're going to follow them.

Seriously, at the beginning of this project I really planned to stay dedicated...and I did, kind of. I had made additional photographs after my last post, but I never wrote about them. My apologies for anyone who's actually reading this stuff. Summer got a little odd and my motivation for blogging on either space just...dissipated.

Anyhow, a few months back my friend Jeff challenged me to wake up early and shoot the morning light specifically for this project. Jeff knows I am not a fan of early mornings, but he also knows I dig the light. It had been a while since I greeted it.

Fine, challenge accepted.

I went out around 7am and just drove until I found a scene I liked. When I saw the sunlight casting around this solo tree, I knew I had to pull over.

After photographing the tree, I turned around and watched the sun fill a field full of weeds. I wondered if the sunny sixteen rule would apply when also shooting into the direction of the sun, rather than with the sun behind me, so I photographed my question...and then I got my answer.
 

The rule worked just the same. I'm sure these lessons are pretty basic, but until this summer, I hadn't really learned them. Certainly not first hand. Learning how to play with light...it made me smile. I adore natural light and it's what I use almost every time I lift my camera. I like that we've began this new relationship and that we work so well together.

After playing in the weed field, I drove up the road a little ways and found the sun pouring through a gathering of tall trees. I loved the way the light spilled onto the road, so I snapped a few frames. And that was that.

Thanks, Jeff, for the challenge. It made a nice ending for my summer project. Yes, that's right...an ending. I had originally hoped to shoot this project over the span of a year, but decided it worked better as a summer project, especially since I've been so terrible at keeping up with posts (hello...it's December!). What I will do, however, is post photos here once in a while that were made using the same rule. So, while the "lessons" are - in some sense - done, I'll still be putting them to use and sharing with you here. Thanks for following along. And sorry I was such a slacker.