The Mistake Every Photographer Makes in Bright Light

We've all had to deal with days where the sun is out, there's not a cloud in the sky and we want to go out with the camera - but you can't shoot in harsh light, right? WRONG! Let me show you another way to embrace the shadows and learn to love the midday sun! In this street photography vlog, we are chasing high-contrast shadows and using them as the key to mastering monochrome composition. From finding dynamic light beams on cobbled streets to framing architectural geometry, you'll see exactly how to turn harsh, direct sunlight into powerful black and white images. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 📸 Editing & Gear Software: I edit all my images with DxO PhotoLab. It’s my go-to for bringing out those subtle, intricate textures and breaks me away from the subscription model so many companies have adopted now. Discount: Head to shop.dxo.com and use code LeighW15 at checkout for 15% off (New users only). My Full Gear List: Check out what’s in my bag at leighw.photos/gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🤝 1-to-1 Photography Mentoring Ready to level up your skills? I offer personalised 1-to-1 workshops across various UK locations. I cater to all abilities—both photographically and physically. Book a session: https://leighw.photos/workshops --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ☕ Support the Channel If you enjoy my content and want to help me keep exploring, consider buying me a 'coffee.' Your support helps me improve the channel and create more videos for you! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/leighwphotos Or why not become a channel member? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks so much for watching—your support means everything! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Midday Sun Photography An overview of how to embrace harsh midday sun rather than avoiding it, introducing Hull Old Town as the location. 00:29 – Camera Settings for High Contrast Monochrome A look at the camera setup: using a Lumix GX9 with a 15mm lens, set to L. Monochrome D, and under-exposing by a third of a stop to pull out deep shadows. 01:16 – Shadow Play in the Alleyways The first composition, focusing on a stark beam of light piercing through a dark archway onto cobblestones. 01:45 – Using the Kerb as a Leading Line How to use structural elements like a kerb as a strong diagonal leading line to cut across harsh shadows. 02:27 – Straight from Camera vs Post-Processing An explanation of how viewing the screen in monochrome helps with real-time visualization, alongside a note on minimal cropping in DxO PhotoLab. 03:19 – Capturing Lines Down a Cobblestone Street Looking down a narrow street to map out how shadows and geometric lines interact on camera. 03:37 – Finding Contrast with Everyday Objects Using a row of wheelie bins in an alleyway to block light and create an interesting high-contrast perspective. 03:56 – Scanning Courtyards for Light & Shade Using the camera's live view to scan an iron-gated courtyard, letting the sensor highlight the natural contrast and haze. 04:36 – Architectural Geometry in Hepworth's Arcade Capturing a liminal space inside a historic arcade, focusing on upright columns, structural diagonals, and the cathedral towers visible through the glass canopy. 05:10 – Abstract Shadows and Window Reflections How to utilize strong light reflections cast from modern windows onto traditional cobblestone roads. 05:47 – Training Your Eye with Workshops A brief mid-video call to action explaining how 1-on-1 photography workshops can help train your eye to see hidden compositions. 06:33 – Composing Around Distractions on Prince Street Walking down one of Hull's classic streets and demonstrating how to work around real-world distractions (like people and ladders) by focusing purely on curves and light. 07:14 – Minimalist Abstract Shots on the Ground A reminder to look straight down at your feet to find minimalist, abstract compositions hidden in pavement fractures and angular shadows. 07:41 – Summary: How to Chase Shadows A quick wrap-up of the core technique: expose for the highlights to force the shadows to pop. 08:15 – Outro & Final Thoughts Final closing thoughts and a request to like, subscribe, or support the channel.