Green Ray by Tacita Dean

Accessed 21st October 2019

The course literature highlights that there ‘is more to daylight for photographers than just the golden hour (or the blue hour, or green ray)’ and refers to a short film ‘green ray’

(cited in Photography 1 Expressing your Vision 2018:88)

The short film ‘green ray’ is set to a recording of the sun setting across clear water. The short film expains that the green ray is the last ray of light to be given off by a setting sun. The ray of light is very allusive and shrouded in superstition with the narrator saying that the green ray ‘came to signify for some great change or fortune in their lives’.

When it comes to photography the last part of the short film resonates with me. The narrator said:

‘Looking for the green ray became about the act of looking itself. About faith and belief in what you see…’

(green ray by tacita dean, 2012)

This is something that is particularly true. You have to really look at what you are taking a photograph of. This ranges from the type of light and its potential colour cast, to the strength of light and direction, all off which which infuences the feeling and message contained within.

Citations

OCA (2018) ‘Photography 1 Expressing Your Vision’ Barnsley: Open College of Arts

green ray by tacita dean (2012) [Short Film] Fee, V. https://vimeo.com/38026163 (accessed on 21 October 2019)