Each week our chief photographer, Anita Ross-Marshall, picks her favourite shot from the archives. She writes:

People talk about light and shade, but there is also a huge amount of other forms of light that make images stand out.

One is the use of very strong light in images.

This hard light has real power on both ends of the scale. In this case, it makes the darker appear darker, and almost solid, and yet at the same time makes the union jack flag semi-transparent. 

This is light at is best, showing us its power and ability to be delicate with objects all at the same time.

  • Image : Flags Amersham VE Day Carnival.
  • Camera Data : Canon EOS 1D Mark 1, Lens f/2.8 16-35mm, Focal Length 16mm, Exposure 1/60th sec, f/22, ISO 1000.