Into the Light...

Into the darkness of the woods

As a photographer, I have learned over the years how important light is in capturing the perfect image. I have heard photography described as painting with light, and that is absolutely true. Lighting can either make or break an image. If you have too much light, the image is blown out and good for nothing because the detail has been lost. If there is not enough light, the image comes out dark, blurry, and grainy. The use of light when taking a picture makes all the difference in whether that image is one that is kept or thrown out. The reduction of light is not always a bad thing, because it can be your tool in achieving dramatic effects. If you want drama and moodiness, reduce the light. When you're in a situation where natural light is unavailable, there is always a dance around what shutter and aperture settings would be best for the effect you're attempting to achieve. Unless you're going for a dramatic effect of some kind, natural light is what we're always trying to emulate. Natural light produces an image of things as they really are, crisp and clear with all the details. But sometimes you want a little softness and not such clarity. I cannot express my joy when I have an image where the lighting is perfect. It is the dream of every photographer (and a good light meter can help you to achieve that!).

From a very early age if not from birth itself, young children seem to be afraid of darkness. Some people get over that fear but many continue to fear darkness into adulthood, even to the point of sleeping with a bit of light after they're grown.. Then there are those like me, who have to have a little light to get up and go to the bathroom during the night. I can't tell you the times I've killed my toe on things in the dark at night! But why is there fear in darkness? I believe it's the "not knowing" of what might be there that cannot be seen. Is there something in the darkness that will hurt me? Is there someone in the darkness lurking who will jump out at me and do me harm? I believe the true fear is the fear of the unknown, and that darkness covers whatever is there, good or bad. Most times all it takes for a child to be relieved of the fear of the dark is to turn on a light. Light makes everything better. Have you ever been unable to sleep for whatever reason and you finally see the sun coming up and it just makes all things better? I have. I've had nights where sleep eluded me, but as I witnessed the sun slowly making its way over the horizon, things just seemed better. Light is life-giving and life-illuminating. 

But I think the analogy between dark & light and falsehood & truth in life is a very interesting one. Sometimes in life, we choose to live in darkness. That may sound a little creepy, but it's true. How many times have we accepted the dark because it covers the light of the truth? If, like I believe, truth is indeed light, then the light reveals how things really are, unlike the darkness which covers up the truth. If there is a truth that you do not want to know, then living in the darkness about that truth seems easier. Because sometimes light, like truth, can produce hurt and discomfort. I always say that candlelight is the most appropriate light if you want to look your best. It's enough light to been seen, but not enough light to reveal all! When I see a close-up picture of my own face in bright light, I do not like what I see! I can see every single freckle, scar, wrinkle, and blemish. But at a distance with light not quite so bright, I can say that I look pretty good because I am not being revealed in true, vivid, up-close lighting. The "truth" of the matter is at my age, it's a given you're gonna have some spots and wrinkles (doesn't mean I have to like it!). So if truth in life is light, why do we sometimes choose to walk in darkness? Once again, because we are afraid of what the light will reveal. If we know the truth, we may be hurt. If we know the truth, we may be forced to change or make a hard decision. If we allow the darkness to cover the truth or even if we just play dumb, we keep the truth from confirming what we don't want to know.

But here's the thing about truth. Like light, it will always come out and reveal the way things really are, whether we want to admit it or not, and whether we like it or not. That old saying "Just give it time, the truth will come out" is so very true. No matter how hard we try to deny what we don't want to believe, the truth will eventually shine its light on the subject and illuminate everything for what it really is. Truth is light and light is truth. I believe they are exchangeable when it comes to life. We should all strive for truth, because it's in walking in truth that we grow and move forward. There have been women out there who want to deny that their scumbag husband is cheating on them but, when they are forced to accept the truth because the light has clearly revealed it, then they begin to heal and find life without the darkness that has always hung over them. When we choose to admit that we made a huge mistake and accept the truth of our error, we are set free to move forward. When we quit denying that we have hurt someone and choose to fess up and make things right, our darkness becomes light. Any time we accept the darkness of a lie, we push the light of truth and the hope of bettering ourselves farther and farther away.

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The dance of glorious light through the trees

So is darkness always a bad thing? No. There is nothing I love better than to lie down at night in a cool, dark room to rest as long as I know I'm safe. That kind of darkness eases the mind and brings on sleep. There is nothing quite like lying on a blanket under the sky at night with all the stars performing a fantastic light show above. We cannot see the stars without the darkness. But when we allow darkness to cover the light of truth, we do ourselves a great injustice and our own lives much-needed growth. Just like a tiny flame in the middle of a dark room, truth can illuminate the darkness all around you and drive it away. Is there darkness in your life? I wish you a life of walking in truth.

Just light that little flame and take one step forward.  

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