The Fun and Adventure of Discovery - Post One Hundred

I Love The Smell Of Electrons In The Morning

About five years ago, I decided to start a blog for my photography. I thought that it would be fun to share the back story behind the images - inspiration, location information, and other notes.

True to my Gemini personality, I realized that one blog would not be enough - so I started two! Earth Color Magic focuses on the aesthetics of photography, while this blog, Light Happens, is dedicated to the fun and adventure of discovering new things that we can do with our cameras.

Every month, I try to post at least one photo per blog along with some notes that I hope will enhance the viewer's experience. As of today, Light Happens has reached a milestone! We have reached the 100-post mark!

I even shot some special photos to commemorate the occasion, a fun idea that I've had in mind for a while. I was inspired to do something special for Post One Hundred.

Self-Portrait with Flash (2017)

I Love The Smell Of Electrons In The Morning

I am very proud of these blogs. I feel that they showcase my photography in a fun and informative way, and I count them among my favorite creative works. I look forward to contributing new images each month and am often inspired to try new techniques and locations as the deadline approaches.

I would like to add a special word of thanks to the people who have inspired and encouraged me along the way, and to all who stop by to visit from time to time. Thank yo for supporting my photography and my writing. I look forward to sharing much more with you in the future. Thanks again for being a part of this special creative journey!


Camera: Nikon D810
Lenses:  AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 G
Lighting: 4x Nikon SB-910 speedlights, Profoto B2

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Manhattan Fire Escape

Iron Meets Light in Black and White

Manhattan Fire Escape

Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Hearst Building - New York

A Bridge Of Time

The Hearst Building in New York, headquarters of the Hearst publishing empire, is an architectural anomaly with significant sections built in different millennia. 

The concrete and steel base section was completed in 1928. The upper glass tower with triangular framing was completed in 2006.

Hearst Building - New York

I'll admit that the stacked design did not appeal to me initially. The upper and lower sections seemed too different. But over time, I have come to appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the structure in its entirety. Like the business that houses, the Hearst Building successfully bridges two centuries with class and style.


Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Shops On Broadway

A row of colorful storefronts in the Chelsea neighborhood.

Shops On Broadway

Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens:     Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Closed On Sunday

Discover The Pattern

Shops in the city cover their windows with heavy metal gates to prevent theft and damage after hours. I passed by a number of these gates during a casual stroll today. By shooting from an oblique angle, I was able to get the get the lines of the gate to converge in an interesting way. 

Closed On Sunday

(There's no particular magic to this technique. You can get the same effect with a phone camera. Just find some parallel lines and shoot them from an angle. Try it! It's fun!)

The gate was painted in drab, uninteresting gray. I converted the image to black & white to focus attention on the shape of the lines and the texture of the metal. I hope you like the result!


Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens:     Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Dog, Cigarette, and Baby

Everything's Right When You're Downtown

A friend ran an errand on William Street recently. Afterward, she commented on the intriguing character of downtown neighborhoods. 

I used to work near William Street. I enjoyed walking around with my camera whenever I had the opportunity. The people are more relaxed here than they are in midtown, and there's a lot of visual and architectural variation in a relatively small area.

Dog, Cigarette, and Baby

Photograph your life. Photograph everything, shoot like you mean it, and never throw those images away. You never know which shot is going to mean something to you one day. 

Wishing you great shots and lasting memories!


Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lenses:  Canon ES 24-105mm f/4L IS

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

America the Beautiful - Part 1

"Nasty Woman" Edition


"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

- Thomas Jefferson

Freedom Is Beautiful

Granny Peace Brigade

"Nasty Women" - Protesting and Proud

Rights: Use them or lose them, and NEVER take your FREEDOM for granted. There are plenty of people out there who would love to shut you up. 


Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved