Light flash

This is definitely one of my favorite pictures so far not only because of the memory that my friends and I shared but also because now, looking at the world with a lighting perspective and being more conscious of the presence and impact of light, I find the interplay of different properties of light to convey a view of the world that is very peaceful and soothing in its precise harmony.

Of course at first glance we are just inclined to notice a weird cool effect that lights are doing and the allure of seeing what those lights are doing is often simply interpreted as the fact that it is an unusual effect; at least that's how it was for me in the beginning. However, after having reflected on it more I have found something deeper and more powerful about why those lights might appeal to the human psyche.

The light from the cellphone shinning upwards on our faces for example creates a very dramatic and dynamic angle which is simultaneously soothing and imposing. On the one hand the soft cool glow of our electronic equipment seems to reflect very softly on our clothes and faces, lightly bouncing off, giving us a mellow undisturbed quality. on the other hand the closeness and the angle put a lot of light on certain areas of our faces and cast some heavy shadows in other parts, thus the faces seem to be warped and grossly disproportionate, due to the fact that lit areas are receiving a lot of light and seem wider than they should be (eyes and mouth area ) while areas with shadow seem almost to recede inward towards the center of the face creating an eerie vibe of deformity and repulsion.

Naturally, such a juxtaposition of visceral sensations created by the same image offers an almost magnetic attraction that is not readily identifiable but proves irresistible none the less.

I guess somethings we just love to hate or we hate to love!

For me its a clear example of the profound psychological power light can have in the way we interpret and understand our world.