I used an old moon snail shell I’ve held onto for years to explore rough texture and how light changes the way we see a surface. By using side lighting, I was able to bring out the subtle ridges and wear on the shell. I also placed a candle inside to illuminate it from within, which emphasized the crack and changed the overall feeling of the texture.
I found this shell about 13 years ago. At one point I dropped it, which created the crack and opening. I was kind of hard on myself for breaking it and considered throwing it away, but since it was the first fully intact moon snail shell I had ever found, I kept it. Using a tea light inside the shell allowed me to see that damage differently and appreciate the crack as part of the texture rather than something that takes away from it. Changing the direction and quality of light had the biggest impact on how the texture appeared.
(Settings for photos 1-3 — ISO 320 63 mm f/16 1/4 sec)
Smooth Textures
I used a smooth, reflective object to explore how light interacts differently with surfaces that do not have much physical texture. Instead of shadows defining the surface, the appearance is mostly influenced by highlights and reflections.
By changing the direction, intensity, and color of the light, I was able to observe how reflections move across the surface and how stronger light creates brighter, more defined highlights. Softer light produced more gradual transitions, while direct light created sharper contrast and more noticeable reflections.
Face Textures
I used my pets as my face models. None of them enjoy having their photo taken, so this wasn’t an easy task, and I knew natural light would be my only option. I worked with sunlight, some of which was filtered through trees and windows, to create different lighting conditions and observe how light changes the appearance of a face.
Lilly can be seen reflected in Angel’s eye as she sits in the window, demonstrating how smooth surfaces can reflect both light and elements of the surrounding environment.
In the Beginning 