JZA B1

Some photographers seem to only use natural lighting (with or without reflectors). Others seem to rely mostly on flash with light modifiers.

I notice this with both indoor and outdoor photography.

Sometimes I see examples of portraits shot with just window light. Looks great. But hard to pull off right.

I also see examples of outdoor shots with fill light with many different flash heads. And results are often amazing.

What's your preferred way? Care to share any advice?

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Au Naturale for me.
I have Speedlights but they are a little scary and can easily ruin a shot. I find that artificial lit images look best when you can't tell they've been artificially lit. Occasionally, I'll check out Neil Van Niekerk's site and get the itch to play with the strobes.

RetCapt Loc: NorCal mountains

Both, but in the case of artificial lighting, I don't supply it.

My photographic interest is landscapes, oftentimes very large. So natural light is the only source. But that is where the magic can take place. I recently did a sunset in Carmel, CA (where we have family). For a very few moments everything was perfect, due to the light. It worked for my photograph.

I also like to do night photos in cities. Those depend on the artificial light to create the scene, but not supplied by me. I have a night photograph of John's Grille in San Francisco. This was the watering hole for Sam Spade in 'The Maltese Falcon'. It had been raining earlier so the sidewalk and street were wet and reflective. I converted it to black and white in post for a film noir look. It turned out extremely well so I have printed it to 11X14". Several of my family and friends are also Sam Spade/Maltese Falcon fans, so I made them prints too. It was artificial light, none of it supplied by me, that made it work.

One of the elements of my enthusiasm of photography is being able to find and use to my advantage the ambient light of a scene.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Most of the photography I do is natural/ambient light. I don’t do much portraiture and when I do with good light I rarely use a flash, although occasionally a fill flash. If I was setting up to do indoor portraits I would use whatever is available, flash, studio lights, diffusers, reflectors. When I am shooting people it’s usually quicker, candid type stuff. I find it pretty easy to use local adjustments in LR when using fill flash and reflectors aren’t options.

MJPerini

With all due respect, you are asking the wrong question. Every accomplished photographer learns that it is the picture that is important. Pictures occur everywhere you need to be able to Get the picture. That means knowing how to add light when necessary. It is totally fine to have a preference for natural light , or studio light but you will invariably find some situations where you are out of your comfort zone.
Raising ISO is not a substitute for good lighting. It can certainly help and we all use it sometimes. But most times a lower iso and a reflector will give better results
If you love studio lighting and find yourself out of the studio? Add a little flash, turn the subject if you can , or change your position.

People with strong opinions about doing it only one way, are often uncomfortable in their ability to modify light to get the picture.
Personally I do lots of natural light photography, but i always carry a reflector and a small flash and 5 or 10% of the time they make the picture.
I started as a studio photographer. If the picture is good , the picture is good…. We don’t first ask what type of lighting is “better”.

Good photographers are problem solvers in search of good pictures.
There certainly are times when you can’t add light or use a reflector say bird or wildlife photography, but if you look at the work of people who are good at that work you will quickly see that they have Positioned themselves relative to the subject and light to give the best chance. That is very much a lighting skill.
This is a long answer to what seemed a simple question, it is offered in an effort to be responsive to the intent of your question.
Good Luck

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I search for interesting natural light (and weather). It's what inspires me most to take the shot.


Closing Time by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

light and shadow by Linda Shorey, on Flickr


pond scene
by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

Wild Morning Glory by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

.

imagextrordinair Loc: Halden, Norway

Natural light, aka "sun light" can work well in the right situation, perhaps better than studio lighting at times...

(Download)

imagextrordinair Loc: Halden, Norway

Love the chairs... you need to offer that as a large print to restaurants, really nice!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks!

btbg

I shoot sports for a living. Most venues severly limit flash or strobes if they allow them at all so its f2.8 jack the iso up and go ahead and shoot. When off work thats a different story. I use flash, flashlights matches, whatever light I have to provide any added light I want or need.

Example flashlights can quickly light up an entire cave.

User ID

Artificial, including ambient. Natural lighting means getting up waaaaay too early !

When surfing work by others, I tend to skim past most of the daylight pix. Seems that those who rely on daylight are less inventive, and I can too easily become bored :-(

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

For some genres of photography this question makes no sense at all. Most of my serious work involves landscapes and especially good scenes have some special aspect of natural light. There is no need to supplement or augment the lighting.

I suspect OP was really thinking about portraits, in which case he should have said so.

gwilliams6

Well said.

As a longtime professional photojournalist for 50 years shooting all subjects around the world, and also a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university, all my photography students learn from me to understand and SEE the light, and how to make creative use of natural light, artificial light and combinations of both.

Do I prefer one over the other, no not really. I will use natural ambient light, indoors and outside if it is available and works for the image. But I wont hesitate to add a reflector and/or strobes when needed for the results I want. I am just as comfortable in a studio indoors or a makeshift traveling studio outdoors.

I look for special and flattering light, day or night, golden hour or cloudy day, fast shutter speeds or long time exposures. That is all part of the fun of my creative journey as a photographer.

Cheers and best to you.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

O. Winston Link did some amazing landscape work at night with artificial light.

http://images.exhibit-e.com/www_danzigerprojects_com/3304811c.jpg

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F5sjoFeRRnM/UokQ_MRMPyI/AAAAAAABM78/HCYUDS5ZTZI/s1600/05+Ogle+Winston+Link.jpg

Seabastes

Skilled use of artificial light is almost necessary in some forms of photography, particularly corporate industrial image making where skilled lighting techniques can turn a situation into a strong image in a very mundane situation. That is not to take away from available or natural light when it can make powerful images as seen in subjects like wildlife or scenic scenes here on UHH.

When it come to image lighting.

A fine example is the work photographer Gregory Heisler.

GREGORY HEISLER
50 PORTRAITS