JZA B1 wrote:
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?
Some photographers seem to only use natural lighti... (
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For indoor family events I use a bounce flash with bounce card. This will help brighten faces and add catch lights in the eyes. I also do this outside at family events for the same reason as well as add a reflector if not doing run and gun shots. Below is one example..
JZA B1 wrote: "Some photographers seem to only use natural lighting."
The fact is that the majority of photographers tend to use natural light. Flash, in studio and outdoors makes beautiful images but the operator needs to know what he or she is doing. Flash means harsh light so most of the time a light modifier needs to be used. Indoor bouncing the flash is a very popular technique and when properly done the image as a result is beautiful without evidence that flash was used. Studio light they all have light modifiers to make the light softer on the subject.
I like using flash but like others here I do not use it very often although I should. Outdoor portraits in a majority of the cases benefit from using fill-in flash to soften the shadow areas. Outdoors using off camera flash with an umbrella works beautifully for portraits.
Flash is an important accessory but the operator needs to understand how to use it for outstanding results.
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
JZA B1 wrote:
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?
Some photographers seem to only use natural lighti... (
show quote)
For outside I only use reflectasols to bounce light back on my subject. I use white, gold and silver depending on the model.
[quote=Linda From Maine]I search for interesting natural light (and weather). It's what inspires me most to take .
These are truly first class images! So what percentage of post processing would you attribute to the quality of these shots? I’d be hard pressed to believe that these are 100% SOOC.
Depends on the subject and how you want the photo to come out.
I'm not a pro... I don't have a studio, but, I prefer natural lighting and use artificial lighting to 'correct' for any shadows, etc.
I am a professional photographer, shooting weddings, events and live music.
I use flash often.
Preferably, only for the weddings and events.
When shooting live music and musicians, I try to avoid using any of my lights, so as to be able to capture the effect lighting on the talent(s).
Most of the venues I work in, are lit so poorly, that people use their phone’s light, to see or read anything.
To make matters worse, the ceilings are usually painted black.
Since there isn’t enough light to get a properly exposed image, I need to supply my own.
I use promediagear boomerangs, (BBX and BBG’s) for better lighting than if the light were to be mounted in the hotshoe.
I will supplement that flash with stand mounted lights, as needed.
FTR:
I refer to using my flash gear,
as shooting with
“available light”
Because…
it is always available!
IMHO
Ymmv
📸 Regards, Randy 📸
raymondh wrote:
These are truly first class images! So what percentage of post processing would you attribute to the quality of these shots? I’d be hard pressed to believe that these are 100% SOOC.
I have not practiced SOOC since color transparency/slide film circa 1990
I have been shooting in raw and editing to my
vision for 10 or 11 years.
What is your definition of quality? Would your enjoyment of these pics be lessened if you knew I'd worked on them in Nik Collection and PS Elements?
These four are examples of my attraction to the quality of the
light. That was the start: how the light affected those subjects. A large percentage of my photos have high contrast and/or are shot in low angle of sun. It's my favorite way to enjoy the hobby!
#1 has the most creative processing (a filter from Topaz Studio 2). The sunlight on the red and chrome was wonderful!
#2 has a lot of manipulation of blacks and whites, and cloning. The assignment for an online group was "Shadows." I'd never looked at that scene in that way before, though I walked past it often.
#3 has some cloning of junk on the water, and color enhancement. Note how the sun was hitting just the top half of the plants and that open blossom. That's why I took the photo.
#4 started with a deeply shadowed background and a single sunlit flower. It has additional adjustments of tones + dodging and burning (learned in b&w film class) via Nik Silver Efex.
Many thanks for your comments and interest!
I use available light. Sun,moon, flash, matches, candles, any damn light that is available.
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