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05/26/2005 03:13:43 PM · #1 |
Okay...I thought I'd through this topic out there because when used properly, natural lighting can help produce spectacular images. Look at some of Librodo's work if you want some great examples.
I've been playing around with natural lighting quite a bit lately and have found a few good techniques.
1. When shooting outdoors have your subject stand just inside of a shadow so that there is sunlight hitting the ground in front of them. This works great as a bouce/fill without having those annoying harsh sun spots. This technique works especially well if the ground in front of them is dry grass, light colored pavement, or anything that will bounce light effectively.
2. Use window light to light one side of a persons face. Then, use a white card or anything to reflect light on the opposite side of thier face to fill in the shadows. This works well because you get obvious directional light without losing half their features in the shadows.
Anyone have some good techniques they'd like to share?
Chris Anderson |
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05/26/2005 03:40:45 PM · #2 |
| I prefer not to use a fill flash or fill up shadows unless the person is completely dark. Natural light creates shadows - naturally. At most I move the person's head to get the most flattering shadowing and presto. |
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05/26/2005 03:42:51 PM · #3 |
Chris,
I agree that natural light is really beautiful, but I do not agree with your tip on placing the subject in front of a bright area to use as bounce. If you have light bouncing up from the bottom then it will light up under the nose (if you are shooting people) and then create shadows under the eyes. At Brooks we would call this monster lighting. I find that if you put someone in open shade face them toward the lights sorce or just looking off a bit and but a black card under them so that there is no up bounce it creates great light. And of course use a reflector on the shadow side.
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05/26/2005 03:45:52 PM · #4 |
thanks,
Chris
Message edited by author 2005-05-27 00:54:24. |
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05/26/2005 10:14:25 PM · #5 |
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05/26/2005 10:20:43 PM · #6 |
that candlestick in the sky is the best source of light to use bar none.
Your first posts are good, but I like more control.
I always have a white/ black foam core, and a silver/gold reflector for better control.
Another technique I learned from the industry that I am involved with is to put black on one side of a person when doing a close up, or portrait. Black cloth, or the black side of the foam core.
This in effect is a 'negative fill', stopping any light from hitting the subject.
thats all.
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05/26/2005 10:23:04 PM · #7 |
| get a nice reflector with a gold layer to bring out skin tones. sunlight is often too bland for those without naturally warm skin tones |
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05/26/2005 10:23:26 PM · #8 |
| you know what i mean? just my two cents |
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05/26/2005 11:32:54 PM · #9 |
I know exactly what you mean. Sounds like good advice. Thanks!
Chris |
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05/26/2005 11:35:26 PM · #10 |
If both the subject and myself are standing in the sun, typically, in lieu of a reflector card or other similar object, I will simply take off my shirt. My pale, I-just-spent-the-entire-winter-indoors, skin reflects enough light to nicely fill the shadows.
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05/26/2005 11:37:16 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
If both the subject and myself are standing in the sun, typically, in lieu of a reflector card or other similar object, I will simply take off my shirt. My pale, I-just-spent-the-entire-winter-indoors, skin reflects enough light to nicely fill the shadows. |
hahahah yay for farmers' tans
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05/26/2005 11:38:37 PM · #12 |
weird picture comes into my head...... go away picture......aaaaggghhh.
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05/26/2005 11:46:56 PM · #13 |
| I love the lighting on my patio - covered, but very reflective and I also use a cheap-o gold car window reflector - trying to snuff out that myth that you have be rich to be a photographer ; ) |
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05/26/2005 11:49:43 PM · #14 |
| Let God set up some perfect lighting, then go find where he put it and take a picture of whatever is under it. Hunt light, photograph what you find there. |
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05/27/2005 12:19:09 AM · #15 |
yeah definitely if you only want to do a headshot or something like what pedro and librodo do with the children shots just get a yellow piece of construction paper and stick it to some cardboard. you can do a little test, get a mirror, stand by a window while the sun is bright and turn your face so that half of it is shadowed and use your hand as a reflector to brighten up the shadows and it actually works well, especially since your skin also simulates gold tinted reflectors.
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05/27/2005 12:29:04 AM · #16 |
Here are some things I've learned. Maybe some more will come to me when it's not past bedtime. ;)
North and South facing windows give more even light for a greater portion of the day.
Ripstop nylon is available very cheaply and can be placed in front of a window to soften the light coming in if you have very strong light as would be typical in East or West facing windows.
Unlike shooting with strobes, when taking portraits with natural lights catchlights will be "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" so position your subject in such a way as to create interesting catchlights.
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