Follow the light: Nighttime offers refreshing light

Most of my daily walks in Taylor lead through Bull Branch Park, a scenic place adorned with cypress trees, ducks, geese, turtles, egrets, herons and squirrels. A stream, Bull Branch Creek, courses through the park, forming a pond before meandering south, toward Murphy Park.

When the sun goes down, however, Bull Branch Park transforms. During Winter months the cypress trees, shedding much of their plumage, almost glow.

Two baseball fields rest on the park’s borders. When teams are playing or practicing, their light spills into the park. The photographs presented here were taken on a recent evening as the ballfield lights enhanced the space.

Night photography has been a passion for years. When the sun’s rays fade, it’s time to bring out the tripod and go to work. While many photographers will say that digital camera sensors can accommodate higher ISO (light sensitivity), the personal preference is to use a tripod, allowing a lower ISO. Since the park’s subjects, even a duck, weren’t moving very much, the longer exposures weren’t a drawback. In one photo, a jogger wearing a green night light for safety passed through the frame. You can’t really see the person because of the longer camera exposure, but his light shines nicely.

Night photography continues to be a passion. It’s perhaps a selfish reason why Daylight Savings Time is problematic. Winter months might be cold, but the light produced can add warmth to a photographer’s life.

Just following the light, friends.

Andy Sharp is an award-winning photographer for the Williamson County Sun.