I have been paying more and more attention to the possibilities offered for unique photography by using and controlling available light. There is a softer element to the images, a more natural feeling and a brightness and color that you just don’t get when using flash.
Most photographers are relying on flash to give them control over image creation. More often than not, they are settling for flat lighting and when looking at many of these images, they are obviously flashed.
There are three components to available light, they are
1. Getting a good exposure 2. Using a proper white balance 3. Brightness/ Contrast and using contrast and subtractive lighting to control lighting patterns on the face and get a dramatic portrait look.
Emphasis was placed on identifying and controlling the direction of light. An overhead light source creates a problem with the illumination of the face. A strong overhead light will give you dark eye sockets and an inability to control lighting patterns on the face.
In order to control overhead light, you need to block it. This can be done by photographing your subject in the shade of a building, or under a tree, or under any kind of a barrier or overhang. Next you have to determine the light source. Where is the light source that we can use as our main light. How can we use it to create direction.
Is their an opportunity to use available light as a fill or accent light. By evaluating the scene you may be able to position the subject to take advantage of a directional light as well as an accent light.
One way to determine the quality of light is to look at the subjects eyes. You should see a catch light. If you don’t see light in their eye’s, then you aren’t working the light properly.
In this image, their is directional light from an open sky, the building to the left is providing shade, that is used to control the light and create a direction to the light. In this scene the light is coming from the right and above.
The subject is low, on the sidewalk because there is not much shade from the building.
By having the subject lift her chin and raise her head, we get light into her eyes from the panel of light above and to the front.
Look at the light on her face and the color on her skin. Isn’t it beautiful.
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