- in Inspiration by Tom Herod
Light Is Everything - Everything Is Light
The beholding of the light is itself a more excellent and a fairer thing than all the uses of it.
Francis Bacon, Novum Organum, Book 1
As a photographer, I am always searching for the light—because light is everything. It shapes our reality, illuminates beauty, and tells the stories hidden within every scene. Each moment I capture begins with an understanding of how light interacts with the world. Whether it’s the soft, golden glow of dawn or the harsh shadows of midday, light defines the mood, texture, and meaning of an image.
Without light, there is no vision. Without vision, there is no art. Vision is more than sight—it is the ability to see what others might overlook, to interpret the ordinary in extraordinary ways. This is where light becomes a tool for storytelling.
Light in Color Photography
In color photography, light's saturation and contrast can draw viewers in, evoking warmth, vibrancy, or melancholy. Many viewers are drawn to my color photographs for their vividness—the way saturation and contrast play together, the brilliance with which light paints a particular moment. These images are immediate; they speak directly to the senses. The warmth of a sunset, the cool shimmer of a morning mist—light makes these colors dance, and people feel the emotion in an instant.
COLOR
MONOCHROME
INFRARED
Light in Monochrome Photography
But when I strip color away and create monochrome art, light becomes even more essential. In black and white, light strips away distraction, emphasizing contrast, texture, and form, demanding a deeper engagement from the viewer. Without hues to guide the eye, the photograph’s soul emerges in the interplay of shadow and light, in the texture of a weathered surface, in the stark drama of contrasting lines and shapes. Black and white photography asks more of its viewers. It’s not just about seeing—it’s about perceiving. Fewer people stop to truly appreciate these images, yet those who do are rewarded with a deeper, more intimate experience. They see stories woven in grayscale, emotions etched in shadow.
Light in Infrared Photography
Infrared photography takes this journey even further. It unveils a world that’s invisible to the naked eye, revealing hidden dimensions of light. Infrared photography, capturing the invisible spectrum, challenges our perception and invites us into a realm of hidden realities. Infrared light captures elements that conventional vision cannot—transforming foliage into ethereal white, skies into deep mysteries. Most people struggle to connect with these images because they search for familiar cues—recognizable colors and textures. Yet, infrared photographs invite us to look beyond the obvious and witness the unseen. They remind us that reality is more layered and complex than we realize.
Why Light Is Everything in Photography
This ongoing search for light is a journey of discovery. Every scene holds a story waiting to be illuminated. Light not only shapes what we see but how we feel about what we see. It’s the heartbeat of every photograph, the silent guide that transforms vision into art.
In many ways, our universe mirrors this progression. There are vibrant, obvious beauties—the color photographs of life—that everyone notices and appreciates. Then there are the monochrome truths, subtler and often overlooked, that require patience and attention to uncover. Finally, there are unseen forces, like the infrared spectrum: always present, yet invisible, influencing our world in ways we rarely perceive.
Light, in all its forms, is a metaphor for existence itself. As a photographer, my work is to reveal these layers—to capture not just what is seen, but what is felt, and sometimes, what is hidden. Each photograph invites you to step into the light and see the world a little differently.