We´ve had a long, and unusual bright, autumn in the northern parts of Europe, with so many mornings emerging in vivid sunshine. Demanding, from a photographical point of view, but also full of opportunities to capitalize on.

Haven´t I talked about backlight before? Of course I have! One of the most pronounced effect is the halo. It´s not at all difficult to create, and the effects can be stunning.

So here is how it goes: Remember to bring your camera! Place yourself in a position where your subject, especially a person, is between yourself and a low, hard light source. Underexpose about 3 stops. Click! And there you go!

Don’t know what I mean by “underexpose about 3 stops?” Ask me! I’m more than happy to tell.

Spotting this tableau in a window as I walked by, I couldn´t resist the urge to capture it. And immediately I was reminisced of Tosca, the opera by the Giacomo Puccini, the maestro himself.

In a first act encounter, unfolding in the church of Sant’ Andrea della Valle, the jealous Tosca makes her lover reassure his love and faithfulness in front of the statue of the Madonna (“Innanzi la Madonna!”).

And to fill in the general picture, this scene emerged, just a stone’s throw away from the catholic church in Oslo, in a street with the rather mind blowing name “Dops gate” (literally, although actually not meant to be, “Drug Street”) …