As a child, autumn was always my favorite season. Something about the brisk, chill air made me feel alive. Now, as I’m getting older, I reaaaally appreciate being warm. Thankfully, last month I got a break from this PA winter by going to visit my parents and siblings in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I had had a photo idea percolating in my head for some time that I was excited to try out during our trip. I love the look of light leaks in old pictures. Of course, there are many photo-editing apps that one can use to get the same effect, but I wanted to try another way, and cellophane popped into my head almost immediately.
I had used some cellophane in a craft with my son, so I had plenty of extra sheets to use. What I did was cut several sheets of cellophane into little pieces and strips, and then held the strips in front of my camera lens to achieve the look that I wanted. I could have taped the cellophane to the lens instead of holding it, but I wanted the option to quickly remove it for some shots.
I also knew that I wanted an urban location for the shoot so that the colors of the cellophane would really stand out against the neutrals of the cityscape. 2 of my siblings agreed to help me as my models, even though it meant waking up before sunrise to beat the traffic that would have been around during the Las Vegas sunset.
If you also like the light leak effect, I encourage you to try the cellophane method! It’s a super easy way to add some color and interest to your photos. It is something that I may be incorporating into future shoots where it would complement the overall feel, such as senior sessions.
While it was wonderful to have a Vitamin D break from the real world, it has also been nice to get back into my routines here at home in PA. Now I’m just hoping for more sunny days on the horizon!
