How to make the best of natural light photography

With 20 years of experience as a professional photographer, I often get questions from students and graduates. Inspired by this, I’ve decided to create a mini blog series exploring various aspects of photography that I’ve learned and developed over the years. I hope this series will be helpful for those starting out in this exciting industry.

This first post delves into the concept of natural light. Starting out in photography, natural light is often the first light source photographers encounter. Flash or artificial light can be intimidating to beginners, where natural light is relatively straightforward. But to create truly striking images, it’s crucial to begin understanding both natural and eventually artificial lighting techniques.

Quality and direction of light

– Photographing during golden hour or when sunlight is low and angled. This creates long, soft shadows that add depth and enhance texture, ideal for portraits, landscapes, and street scenes.

– Position your subject so that light grazes across surfaces at an angle – side lighting emphasises the contours and textures, making them stand out more dramatically. Backlighting can create beautiful rim lights or silhouettes.

– Avoid harsh midday sun unless you want dramatic, high-contrast effects. Obviously, this can’t always be done if you are on an assignment and you have a long list of things to capture. When shooting in the middle of the day, use shadows, dappled light, or shoot in shady areas.

– Embrace natural shadows and highlights to add mood and dimension to your images. Dappled light through leaves or windows can create interesting patterns.

– By thoughtfully observing and manipulating natural light – embracing both its highlights and shadows – you can create images rich in dynamic shadows and compelling textures, transforming ordinary scenes into something really interesting.

Control natural light using reflectors, diffusers or your environment

– Use shade from trees or buildings to achieve soft, even lighting, which is especially flattering for portraits.

– When shooting indoors, position your subject next to a window for soft, natural light. Windows act as giant soft boxes, creating a soft and pleasing light.

– Use reflectors to bounce light back onto your subject, filling in shadows where needed or intensifying contrast for a more dramatic effect. Silver reflectors create more defined, dramatic highlights, while white reflectors provide softer fill.

– Using diffusers to soften harsh sunlight will reduce contrast but can still maintain enough shadow to reveal texture without overwhelming the details.

Adapt to weather conditions

– Overcast days offer diffused, even lighting that minimises harsh shadows and highlights, making them ideal for portraits, documentary story telling and event photography.

– On sunny days, use a neutral density (ND) filter to control exposure and allow for wider apertures or slower shutter speeds. ND filters act like sunglasses for your lens, reducing light intensity and bringing exposure down.

– Be mindful of changing light on cloudy days and look for dramatic lighting caused by breaks in the clouds. This can be used to great effect to add drama.

– Don’t be afraid to shoot in unconventional weather—rain, fog, or storms can add drama and uniqueness to your images. Shooting in the rain in cities can produce really interesting results because everything looks shiny and reflective.

Photographing with diffused natural light

Diffused natural lighting involves using softened sunlight. This can be achieved through environmental factors like clouds or intentional techniques such as placing subjects in the shade or using diffusion materials. Overcast days naturally provide diffused light because clouds act as a giant softbox, scattering sunlight and eliminating harsh shadows.

This makes it ideal for portraits. Indoors, positioning a subject near a window that doesn’t receive direct sunlight or pulling a translucent curtain across the window can create gentle, flattering illumination. Outdoors, photographers can diffuse harsh sunlight by moving subjects into the shade or using tools like diffusion panels, umbrellas, or reflectors. This approach results in images with even lighting, reduced contrast, and a warmer, more natural look. Details and skin tones appear softer and more appealing.

#notes on photography #photography techniques






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