Travel & Photography Magazine
Six key insights to elevate your storytelling with the power of light, shadow, and color! With @zayyarlin84 / In this image by @zayyarlin84, a simple walk home becomes a meaningful story through the way light and shadow work together:
1) The golden sunlight shining through the trees shapes an ordinary road into a warm scene where the mother and child stand out as silhouettes. In this case, light shapes our emotions about this location and moment.
2) Research in environmental psychology suggests that natural light can strongly influence our emotions and sense of well-being. According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, exposure to natural light “promotes positive mood and reduces stress” by affecting brain areas responsible for emotional regulation (Cheung et al., 2021). The soft, golden light in this photo creates a calm and comforting atmosphere, which matches the bond between mother and child.
3) In addition, the dust caught in the sunlight adds a layer of atmosphere that blurs details and focuses our attention on the feeling of the scene.
Studies on visual perception note that light scattering and soft focus encourage viewers to “process images more emotionally rather than analytically” (Kosslyn, 1994), helping the image connect on a deeper level.
4) The color palette plays a crucial role in this too. Warm colors such as gold, amber, and brown are known to evoke feelings of warmth and safety. Furthermore, research confirms that warm hues “increase feelings of comfort and social connection” (Elliot & Maier, 2014), which fits perfectly with the theme of maternal care and home.
5) Earthy browns and muted yellows bring a sense of tradition and history, reminding us of routines and stories passed through generations.
6) Lastly, using an analogous palette of warm colors helps keep the scene balanced and focused, drawing attention to the connection moment.
Here’s the color palette to inspire your edits:
Golden sunlight – F4A300
Amber dust – D88C3D
Muted clay – A66A2C
Deep earth brown – 5A3A1D
Soft shadow – 2E1D10
@nomadict: What do you think about this fantastic moment and colors by @zayyarlin84?