Day & Night

Clive Branson of Ottawa explains the fascinating psychological effect of seeing the same scene in daylight and then at night

- Clive Branson

In this piece, I have photographed a series of shots of locations in and around Ottawa, shooting each from the same perspective to illustrate the psychological difference day and night has on our psyche. Any piece of architecture or scenery will change in character depending on the time of day. Lighting plays a crucial role in defining the form and shape of a structure and how we perceive it. During the day, the light exposes an abundance of information while the evening drapes this knowledge like a mask, only allowing what it wants to portray. The direction of a light source can transform spaces and impact the way people feel in these spaces.

What is it that makes us marvel or feel relaxed about a location during the day, but an impending sense of foreboding prevails at the same location at night? Daylight can bring optimism and hope, yet the evening can translate into the spectacular or the sinister.