Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHONAs a kid, I was always fascinated by lamps. Big lamps. Little lamps. Medium lamps. Why? I dunno. Just coz. I remember an expression my mother always used to describe someone who was in an unseemly hurry. "Off like a lamplighter," she used to say. And I never understood the phrase until she explained that people were actually once paid to climb tall ladders and activate street lamps. Because they always had many to do, they would carry out the task as swiftly as they could - hence the expression.
Now that I'm a grown-up (ostensibly) and a photographer (ostensibly) lamps still hold an equal amount of fascination for me. Not only is their glow warm and welcoming in a home, it's also fun to train your camera on them occasionally. This lamp interested me for a couple of reasons. First of all it's upward-facing, and second, because it's in a corner of the room its reflection actually creates a ripple effect or a wave of soft light on the walls.
8 comments:
I have seen the light as well, David. My true vocational passion is restoring and preserving same. IN fact, a goodly portion of the moving trailer was taken up with the contents of my old lighting shop. It has been a misery to not have the room to unpack any of it but SOON that will change for the better. Thank you for a wonderful morale boost with this lovely capture of light. It is so warm and inviting.
I found the standard uplighters so surprising when we first arrived here However, just like everything else, I've adjusted [besides at this age soft lighting is a must!]
Cheers
Please try my duplicate "loads like a dream" blog over "here."
I know what you mean about lamps. I took a photo of one in my living room a couple of weeks ago or so (it's on my blog) because I liked the shadow it cast against the wall. I've never heard the expression "off like a lamplighter" before. I'll use it sometime and watch for peoples reactions.
Well I never, I took a photo of the lamp in our lounge last week, havent posted tho,haha.
Did you see my Symmetrical Post?
you are a million times cooler than i am. if there's even a hint of a light source in my shot, it's completely washed out. i know, you use a special camera. i need to learn some things before i can get one of those.
the lamplighter info was really interesting. i'd heard that phrase once or so before, but didn't know what a lamplighter was. and i must have not been anywhere near google at the time. . .
I can see you are a professional photographer - I wish I was too..
This is a soft fountian of light David.Lovely
I remember the elders of my family talking about the lamplighters.They used to light them before electricity came to various parts of our country.
My wife and I battle all the time about light. I like dimly lighted rooms with soft light, she likes glaring overhead light. We often hang in different rooms due to the light, but when the lights are off we are both ok (he, he).
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