Eyes opened
I had a unique opportunity to experience Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the winter of 2022. Working as a guide several nights a week for the eight week run of the exhibition I discovered unique vantage points and techniques to make memorable images for myself and encouraged many visitors to look at the BBG in new ways. When I could I helped visitors take home images of themselves they would have missed, and I explored many vantage points with my camera that most visitors missed.
Smart phones ruled the nights
Through the power of computational photography that recent model iPhones and Android phones produce with a little bit of guidance it is possible for almost anyone to capture the best of Lightscape. I pushed myself to go beyond the common images and I'd like to do the same for others at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Traditional cameras just can't make the same images as modern smartphones, though they do have the advantages of better optics, and interchangeable lenses. I hope to investigate how to get the most out of DSLR and mirrorless cameras at events like Lightscape as well. Anyone with a recent model iPhone or Android can make striking images of this engaging event and level up your game on social media.
There is more than one Lightscape to experience, so participants might be motivated to return to the show multiple times over the run. In the rain it was very different from a dry night. Busy nights, and not so busy nights, presented different opportunities to make images. Early in the evening with the twilight looked different from late at night. And the Moon, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus put on a show as they moved across the sky each night the clouds cooperated.
Next time you're at the Garden by day or night look behind you. Especially at night look for locations where some light source lights you up for a selfie or group photo. Experiment with the camera settings and turn off night mode and adjust exposures. Edit your photos to bring out the shadows and tame the highlights. Experiment with time lapse sequences. And more.
