Moving light

To love beauty is to see light.

- Victor Hugo -

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I wasn't sure if I should preface this post with yet another disclaimer about not being a photographer and decided against it. Ok, not really - Here it is:

I literally have zero clue about the intricacies of photography and usually shoot in auto and simply hope for the best; often the best is far from great, a long way from good, somewhat distant from average and much closer to passable...For a knucklehead like me.

There's so many great photographers on the blockchain who do amazing work and I'm happy to look at it knowing I'll never emulate it. I'm completely comfortable to take passable photos that add a little something to my posts and leave it at that.

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Last night I headed into the city to take a look at the building-illumination projected on the Torrens Parade Ground building in commemoration of Remembrance day, the 11th November 1918 when Germany signed the armistice ending World War One. The illumination honours the service and the sacrifice of Australians, members past and present, of the Australian Defence Forces throughout history to this day.

The artwork and illumination was designed by a South Australian company using photos from the War Memorial, local community groups like the R.S.L and private collections and allows the chance to reflect on and remember the service men and women who served Australia and have lost their lives in that service. Of course, these days respect isn't in fashion so there were only a few in attendance. Shameful really, but a sign of the times.

As I stood watching the images of people who stood up in the countries' time of need I felt sad and proud at the same time. I thought about those I have lost to war, mates in the field and through their inability to cope with what comes after and I was moved. I'll admit to being angry that literally across the road several thousand people were attending the OzAsia festival, eating and drinking and making merry, under the comfort of freedom provided by others - But that's how it goes. I quashed that emotion though preferring to have a quiet moment of reflection and remembrance in honour of people who truly deserve it.

Eventually I moved away and headed back to my car and on the way decided to try something with my camera. I had my tripod with me so set it up with the intention of getting some light trails, something I've only ever tried once before with little success. I didn't have much more luck last night to be honest but thought I'd embarrass myself today and show you a couple I managed to get.

I kind of like this one above despite it being framed poorly and I cut off the top of St Peter's Cathedral. I like how it looks like sparks and there's a cool line-effect through the red light as the vehicles move through the shot. For this shot cars were travelling left to right.

This one above shows the Adelaide Oval Stadium in the background, the green-lit arches are the top of part of the roof over the hotel that is incorporated into the complex. This shot shows cars moving from right to left just after the traffic lights went green.

The first image in this post is cool also, well, it is to me anyway. A bus came past which is why the light is up so high and includes some blue colourings which came off the lit advertising on the vehicle. I like how it sort of feels like a tunnel of light, almost like one could step inside and be transported somewhere through it.

When I took these last night I didn't know what I had on the camera screen because I didn't take my reading glasses so couldn't read the settings let along see how the focus looked; on looking at them this morning I was pleased to see I have been consistently below-average with my photography - Consistency matters you know. Maybe one day I'll take photography a little more seriously and learn some things, get better equipment and work a little harder on better results but for now...Well, whatever I do now will do.

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I enjoyed a couple hours in the city last night. The illumination was somewhat moving and gave me focused moments to think about courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice, those I have lost to war over the years and all those who served, or still serve today. It was a moving light illumination and a quiet moment of reflection. I also had some fun, frustrating fun due to my lack of skills, playing around with moving light of another kind and my camera.