Raking Light

[dwat]

Not sure if I am posting in the correct place,but,our camera club has a comp coming up with the subject being Raking Light.I am struggling a bit coming to grips with this one.Do any of you have an example of this or can it be explained very simply in layman's terms.I have googled it and have a rough idea but really not enough information.I could just through it in the too hard basket and skip that month but would like to have a go as that is how we learn.Any help or examples appreciated Regards David

[macmich]

hows there sense of humour go down bunnings and buy a couple of dozen light bulbs and a plastic rake
cheers macca

[ameerat42]

hows there sense of humour go down bunnings and buy a couple of dozen light bulbs and a plastic rake
cheers macca

- ...a-a-ahh! Seriously, though, it's light that strikes the subject at a low angle to its surface (or words to that effect).

(And really not much from Google? I asked for "raking light" and got 12s of refs. Here's the first sentence in the Wikipedia one:

Raking light
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raking light, the illumination of objects from a light source at an oblique angle or almost parallel to the surface, provides information on the surface topography and relief of the artefact thus lit. It is widely used in the examination of works of art.

)

Am(off to light the leaves).

[dwat]

Thanks boys for your advice and sense of humour,sorry but just can't help myself

[johndom]

To rake the light is to put it at an angle parallel(ish) with the surface you are photographing.
Think about the sand or ocean as the sun rises.
The definition works best with flat surfaces, to rake the light across a face is a very relative thing as heads are round.

[Mark L]

macca beat me to it, though I'd use torches instead of bulbs.
Reckon a few (lot) in your club will be in the same position as you. While it's probably not what is meant by raking light, I instantly thought of the suns rays (god rays) at sunset. http://www.brendanmaunder.com/2013/04/29/god-rays/
You just never know.

[fess67]

My first thought was light streaming through venetian blinds into a dusty / smokey interior.

[dwat]

Thanks people.I think I am finally grasping this concept.I had a look through my images yesterday and found this.It may not be a perfect example but not far from it I think.This was taken late afternoon in a gravel quarry as the sun was beginning to dip David

[ameerat42]

Dwat. In theis image you have "raking light" across the near face of PART the rock outcrop , and this shows up the texture of the pebbles. Not all of the picture is illuminated with raking light, though,
like the rocks to the RHS and the quarry walls.
Am.