In my small living space I have a window that faces toward the west. It is by far the biggest window and for a very short window every year there is a period of time when the light coming through it is just stunning for about one hour a day. Depending on the weather this is typically around the end of April through the month of May.
It’s a soft light, yet very bright. It swoops down low toward the horizon and casts long shadows that require only the tiniest bit of diffusion. A sheer curtain is enough to do the trick. There is just enough space to make a nice head and shoulders portrait with the standard 80mm f/2.8 Planar on my Hasselblad 500cm. Most admirably, it is the kind of light were it is really hard to make a bad image when I’m using it.
I made this portrait last may using that lovely evening light coming through my western facing living room window. It was kind of an odd period of time. COVID was in full lockdown mode still, at least around the Portland area, and I had to be careful with who I was choosing to work with. I was incredibly grateful that even in the scariest and weirdest of times I was still able to get work done that I am proud of.