Brief Moments of Light

Notes on seeing, slowing down, and letting the light find you

In this scene, light was the subject. It shimmered across the water, shaping the surface into ribbons of movement and contrast.

The Light That Moves

One of my favorite things about woodland photography is the way the light seems to float across the forest floor. It comes through the forest canopy, filtering through the branches and leaves, creating a dappled sort of light alternating with shade from the branches, and moving as the wind moves the leaves. On a day with a few clouds in the sky, they add to the moving shade and sun as well. The sun moving slowly as the day progresses adds to the changing light.

This mushroom was easy to overlook in the shade. But just for a moment, the clouds shifted, and a small beam of sunlight made it stand out like it was placed there on purpose.

The Japanese have a word for this phenomenon: komorebi. It refers to the fleeting, shimmering light that filters through trees. And once you begin to notice it, you start to see how much it adds—and how quickly it can disappear.

Chasing vs. Letting the Light Come to You

Most of my outings start the same way: walking through the woods, looking for compositions. But on those days with the bright light that comes through the trees in unpredictable ways, appearing and quickly vanishing again, you have to be quick. The perfect moment might only last a few seconds.

Familiar places reveal new things with each visit. The scene stays the same, but the light never does.

You don’t always find what you’re looking for. Sometimes, something else finds you. I hadn’t planned on shooting spiderwebs that morning, but then the light did this. And it didn’t last for long.

That same unpredictability also means some subjects won’t have the right light right away. But if you see potential, it’s often worth waiting. Set up the composition. Watch the light. Be patient. Let the scene come to life rather than trying to force it.

Sometimes the light comes. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, it’s part of the process.

When Patience Pays Off

It doesn’t happen this way every day. But on the days when it does, the fun of working with a scene, finding compositions, and watching what the light is doing can keep me occupied for a while. Will that branch catch some light? How about those ferns? That little red mushroom over in the shade needs a spotlight. Will I get it?

I carry a small fill light for moments when nature needs a nudge. But on days like this, nature tends to do better. I just have to wait.

I couldn’t reach this fern with any kind of fill light. I framed the shot and waited. Eventually, the sun did exactly what I’d hoped.

I experimented with this fern for quite some time before the light was right. I waited because of that dark space behind it, hoping for a highlight to hit the green foreground. It was partway up a rock face with no way to use artificial fill light, so patience was the only option.

Light as Subject, Not Just Illumination

Sometimes the light itself is the subject.

This is something I’m still learning to see. I often focus on what the light is revealing, but sometimes it’s the contrast between light and shadow that gives a scene its shape. Shadows carve out depth. Light becomes form. Texture, tone, and rhythm begin to emerge.

I find it’s much easier to look for this type of composition in a place I’m more familiar with, where I return often. These locations hold fewer distractions. I start to see more than just what’s in front of me. It becomes easier to see how the light is shaping the scene in that moment.

The canopy breaks the sunlight into stripes across this back road. It’s the kind of light that makes you stop and pay attention, even if just for a moment.

Letting Go of Control

I sometimes have trouble seeing some of these subtle changes. It becomes slightly easier if I am in a place I have been before, a place I am comfortable with. When everything is unfamiliar, I get caught up in exploring, taking in the big picture. That’s not a bad thing, but it makes it harder to tune into the quieter shifts in atmosphere and light.

Once I have been there a few times, I start looking at what has changed, and that helps me see these more subtle details.

And perhaps the biggest lesson is this: you have to be willing to let go of your plan. It’s good to have a goal when heading out with the camera, but it’s just as important to be ready to abandon it. Let the light lead. Let the scene show you what it wants to be. And be there when the moment arrives.

✅ Where to Find Me

You can find more of my work on the web at: Simmons Photography

If you want to work with me, or inquire about licensing images: Contact Page

More of my work can be seen on Vero and Flickr.

🎒 The Gear Bag - Gear and Inspiration

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share gear and resources I personally use or believe in.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• One of the most creatively inspiring books I’ve read in a while is Light, Space, and Time by David DuChemin. It’s not a typical photography book.

• I’ve got a few tripods, but I think the one that gives me the most stability in a lightweight package would be the Winston 2.0 from 3 Legged Thing. I’ve actually got a couple of their tripods, and they have held up extremely well.

💬 Closing Thoughts

• If you’re visiting NY State Parks on a regular basis, I highly recommend the Empire Pass. The parks are a great destination for hiking trails and photo ops, so I visit them often.

• If you are planning on exploring the St Lawrence River region, Wellesley Island State Park should be on your short list of places to stay, or at least to visit. This is one of my favorite State Parks in the St Lawrence region.