The very basics of photography involve learning to work with natural light. While technology has certainly made it easier, thanks to more dynamic range stops and other cool features, it can still be very tricky. We've got three valuable tips for working with natural light for all you amateurs and newcomers to photography.
(Success Tip #1:Take portraits of people anywhere and turn them into profits)
First of all, you need to understand that natural light cannot be changed in any way. If it's a sunny day, it's going to stay that way. I know you wish you could put a few clouds between you and the sun, but as you probably learned while still a toddler, Mother Nature has a mind of her own. Trick number one is to accept the lighting conditions and not fight them. You simply have to learn to work with what you get.
The second tip is to be prepared. Doing your homework before a scheduled shoot is a lot easier with apps like The Photographer's Ephemeris which lets you see the position of the light at anytime, anywhere on the planet. Plan ahead and know exactly where you need to stand in order to get the best results.
Last but not least, and this is probably the hardest of the three, is being patient. You need patience when working with natural light. Sometimes an unpredictable cloud will cover your subject and leave everything else lit. Well, that's just how it goes every now and then. All you can do is wait it out or come back another day. Being patient as a photographer will take you a long way so consider working on it.
(Success Tip #2:Get your free catalog from NYIP here )
Here is photographer Mark Wallace giving details about these tips from Paris, in this video from Adorama TV.
Learn more about shooting in natural light from these recommended books:
- Exposure: From Snapshots to Great Shots
- Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
- Master Photo Exposure