In this activity, we look at natural light and how we can use it. First, we will take a look at direct hard sunlight. In the image below, we can see the light coming in from camera right. This is hard light, direct from the sun. It produces high contrast, contrast is the difference between light and dark in an image. High contrast images have bright highlights and dark shadows.
In this next image, we still have direct hard sunlight coming in from camera right, however, this time we have added a silver reflector to camera left at head level, just in front of our subject to bounce some light back into the shadows on the face to reduce contrast and fill in the shadows. Reflectors come in different colours, the most common being white, silver and gold. Each will work best with different light temperatures. I chose silver because I don’t have a gold one yet and the colour temperature I’m shooting in is cool light so silver works nicely. Gold can work better for a more warmer colour such as golden hours just before sunset and just after sunrise when the sky is redder and softer than when the sun is high in the sky. Also, I do not have a diffuser as yet and could not find or makeshift anything to use as one, however, the below image gives a great example of when the use of a diffuser would be beneficial. A diffuser has a translucent surface that softens and reduces the amount of light travelling through. If a diffuser had of been placed between the sunlight and subject on camera right, we would have softened the light, creating a more even and flattering light and my subject would not have been squinting from the brightness.
Next, we will take a look at open shade. Open shade is the shade that is next to direct or open light such as a verandah or a porch or the shade from a tree, anywhere there is shade directly next to open light. By placing our subject near the edge of the shade, but not so direct light is hitting them, the light is softened and contrast decreased. The below images were taken in front of a tree with sunlight coming from behind and a little left. The light is a lot softer and our subject is more relaxed and no longer has to squint, resulting in a more softer and relaxed portrait. May I add that my model has had enough by this point and just wants to go do what boys do best, haha.
In these next few shots, we used the reflector to bounce light back at the subject to see what effect it would have and also changed the angle of the face to see what it looked like. For me, the first shot without the reflector is good, the lighting is quite even and soft. The second image, using the reflector actually added shadows to the face and made our model squint a little, we moved the reflector around to see if a different angle would work but didn’t like the way the light was shining back at our subject.
So we went with an angle change of the face instead. I don’t mind these shots, the lighting is still soft with a slight highlight on far cheek, my subject is comfortable and relaxed which made for a more relaxed and comfortable image, however, boys have to be boys, so off he went to play. I still wanted to show you one more type of natural lighting situation, so inside I go to find another willing subject 🙂 .
Ok, so we are inside now. Window light is a great light to play around with for portraits. The light is indirect and diffused so it’s nice and soft, providing the light is not directly shining through the window. In these next two images below, we started playing around with positions and lighting but felt the light was a little too direct and harsh and not exactly the example I had in mind, yet a perfect example of what we mentioned about the light coming directly through the window. It was afternoon and the sun was low in the sky and shining directly at us. I decided to try again with the morning light.
The morning light appears but my models disappeared, they had to go to school so I had to take a few selfies to show some examples of a window-lit portrait. I’ve taken a few images from different angles so we can see how the light coming through the window can change the look and mood of our image. Thank the camera gods for swivel lcd’s and live view 🙂 . I have used my Canon EOS 200D for this activity for that reason.
Now we know a little more about natural light, where to find it and how to use it, we can experiment with different locations and times of day and use what we have learned to make better portraits. Thank you for reading my blog 🙂 Happy Snapping
Natural Light
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