Wild Light
Capturing Wild Light at Twilight: A Journey with Mark Zissis
When the day’s final moments surrender to the night, a magical transformation occurs in the sky. Colours intensify, shadows lengthen, and the world is bathed in a fleeting, otherworldly glow. This is the “wild light” of twilight—a time that landscape photographers cherish for its mood, mystery, and colour palette. Who better to explore this ethereal time of day than with Australian photographer and artist Mark Zissis, known for his captivating outback scenes, and a master at harnessing the unpredictable light of the wilderness?
In this blog, we’ll dive into the essence of twilight photography, how Mark Zissis uses light to enhance the mood of his landscapes, and essential camera settings that will help you capture the beauty of the untamed light at dusk.
The Beauty of Twilight Light
Twilight, which occurs just after sunset or before sunrise, is the narrow window where daylight and night mix, offering a unique balance of colours. The sun, though hidden below the horizon, still casts a soft, diffused light across the sky, creating a gradient of blues, pinks, purples, and sometimes even fiery oranges. This brief period has a raw, untamed beauty that challenges photographers to capture its fleeting magic.
Mark Zissis, celebrated for his powerful landscape compositions, often returns to twilight scenes, especially in the Outback, where the open sky stretches endlessly, creating a canvas for twilight’s colours to explode. Mark harnesses this wild light in his art, creating images that pulse with energy and emotion.
How Mark Zissis Captures Twilight
Mark’s approach to twilight is rooted in patience and an intimate understanding of natural light. “Twilight is like a portal,” he says, “The world becomes softer, and every colour, every shadow seems to have a soul.” He waits for the right moment when the balance between the waning sunlight and the rising darkness creates the perfect contrast. Here are a few key principles he follows to master the twilight light:
Scout Your Location in Advance: Twilight moves quickly, so it’s important to scout the area before the light begins to fade. This gives you time to find the right composition—whether it’s a silhouette of a tree, a reflection on water, or a vast expanse of the sky.
Embrace Silhouettes: The lower light levels often create stark contrasts between the sky and land. Mark uses silhouettes to give his twilight scenes depth, allowing the sky’s colours to take center stage while the landscape itself becomes a quiet, mysterious shadow.
Chase the Glow: The light changes every few minutes during twilight, so Zissis advises staying flexible. “Don’t pack up right after sunset,” he says, “The best moments often happen just when you think the show’s over.”
Essential Camera Settings for Capturing Twilight
Now, let’s talk about the technical side. Twilight can be a tricky time to photograph, as the changing light levels can confuse your camera’s settings. But with a few tweaks, you can capture the wild light of twilight with precision and grace.
Here are Mark Zissis’s tips for getting the best out of your camera during twilight:
Shoot in RAW
Twilight offers a wide dynamic range, and shooting in RAW will allow you to capture the full spectrum of colors and detail. RAW files give you greater flexibility in post-processing, where you can recover shadows, highlight details, and adjust the white balance to enhance the image’s mood.
Use Manual Mode (M)
Twilight scenes can confuse your camera’s auto-settings because of the low light and strong contrast between sky and land. Switch to Manual Mode so you can have complete control over your settings.
Adjust Aperture (f/8 – f/16)
Mark usually works with a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number) like f/8 to f/16 to ensure a greater depth of field, keeping both the foreground and background sharp. Twilight is about capturing the whole scene, so a deeper focus is essential.
Long Exposure (1/4 – 10 Seconds)
As the light fades, you’ll need a longer exposure to properly expose your shot. Start with an exposure time of around 1/4 second and adjust based on how much light is available. Longer exposures—up to 10 seconds or more—can help capture more light and detail in the sky, while also creating silky effects on moving elements like clouds or water.
ISO 100 – 400
Keep your ISO low to reduce noise, especially since twilight shots often include large portions of the sky, where noise can easily creep in. Start with ISO 100 and gradually increase it if necessary, but avoid going above 400 to maintain the image quality.
White Balance – Cloudy or Shade
Twilight is naturally cooler in tone, but adjusting your white balance to “Cloudy” or “Shade” can help warm up the colors, making the scene feel more vibrant. However, you can also leave this in Auto White Balance (AWB) if you plan to fine-tune it later during editing, especially when shooting in RAW.
Tripod & Remote Shutter Release
With longer exposure times, a tripod is essential for keeping your camera stable and avoiding camera shake. Use a remote shutter release or the camera’s timer function to minimize any movement that might blur your image.
Use Exposure Bracketing
Twilight’s rapidly changing light can make it difficult to get the perfect exposure in one shot. Exposure bracketing, where the camera takes multiple shots at different exposure levels, can help ensure you capture a properly exposed image. Later, you can blend these exposures in post-processing to achieve the best result.
Conclusion: Twilight as the Wild Frontier of Photography
For Mark Zissis, twilight is not just a moment—it’s a feeling, a brief window when the world looks and feels different. His ability to see the possibilities in this wild light, and capture its fleeting beauty, is what sets his work apart. By mastering the art of twilight photography, you, too, can bring the wild light to life in your own images.
So, next time you find yourself outdoors as the sun dips below the horizon, don’t rush home. Set up your tripod, dial in those settings, and wait for the twilight magic to unfold. You might just capture something extraordinary.
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