Playing with light

Photography is all about perspective. Any image can be taken in a hundred different ways. What decides a photograph's final look is the composition, the inclusion or elimination of components in the frame, and lighting. All these help tell a story that is unique. Very often, some truly stunning images may emerge from seemingly ordinary settings.

ANM photographer Silvia Baron spotted a scene that to many eyes seems common a road, two men taking a break by their respective vehicles and a camel in the background. But to her eyes the scene acquired an entirely novel symbolism the contrast of two modes of transport, one timeless, the other modern. "I shot this in Al Ain in a place called Bida Bin Saud," says Baron.

"Two cars were parked facing each other at the edge of the road. The two men seemed to be enjoying a good conversation but the camel seemed bored," she laughs. "This frame had many hues and colours and I found there was a sort of discord as well as an element of harmony to the image."

She credits a mentor who prodded her to "to pay more attention to the subject's surroundings and find pictures in the seemingly ordinary".

According to Baron, the time of day you are shooting determines the kind of colours in your frame.

"In summer, colours are muted. If you are planning to take pictures of the sky in the desert sun, be prepared to face frequent fluctuations of light conditions. Ideally, in summer, outdoor photography should be done either early in the morning or late in the day around sunset.

"Light conditions for photography are ideal in winter because the glare will not be as bad. Hence, pictures taken in winter come out better than expected."