For my A-Level Photography, I chose to investigate the theme of Light and Dark—not just as a technical challenge, but as a way to tell stories, evoke emotion, and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Throughout this project, I explored how light interacts with people, objects, and environments, using both analogue and digital techniques. My journey took me from experimental portraiture to urban landscapes, still life, and reflections, always searching for new ways to capture the interplay between illumination and shadow.
My fascination with light began with simple experiments: photographing glass, cutlery, and everyday objects to observe how light creates reflections, textures, and depth. Early on, I was inspired by photographers like Brassai, whose night photography of Paris revealed the city’s hidden moods, and James Welling, who used backlighting and abstraction to transform the familiar.As my project developed, I expanded my focus to include portraiture, architecture, nature, and documentary photography. I staged photoshoots at night, in low light, and during golden hour, always pushing the limits of exposure, contrast, and composition. I also explored the work of Josef Sudek, Bill Brandt, and Lee Friedlander, learning how each artist used light to create atmosphere, narrative, and symbolism.
Much of my work involved analogue photography—shooting on film, developing in the darkroom, and experimenting with exposure times, filters, and printing techniques. I played with long exposures to capture movement and blur, used mirrors and reflective surfaces to create layered compositions, and embraced the unpredictability of film: fogging, grain, and accidental marks became part of my visual language. I also explored digital photography and editing, using software to enhance contrast, simulate overexposure, and manipulate colour balance. This allowed me to push images beyond what was possible in-camera, creating surreal effects and emphasizing the emotional impact of light.
Some of my favourite experiments included:
While light was my central theme, my work also touched on ideas of reflection, symmetry, and the passage of time. I was drawn to moments where light revealed something hidden—a fleeting expression, a pattern on a wall, or the delicate shadow of a flower. I experimented with double exposures, negative prints, and collage, always looking for new ways to express the duality of light and dark.
My portfolio includes:
This project taught me that photography is truly “drawing with light.” Every image is a balance between what is revealed and what is concealed, between clarity and mystery. Through analog and digital experiments, I learned to embrace both the technical and expressive possibilities of the medium. I invite you to explore my A-Level Photography portfolio and discover how my approach to light and dark has evolved. Each photograph is a moment of curiosity, experimentation, and discovery—a visual story shaped by the interplay of illumination and shadow.
These photos are taken using different times of exposure, to better observe the way the light affect the active paper.
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