Hello All,
I do not know whether a similar topic was discussed and if yes, simply direct me to the thread and I will appreciate it.

I wanted to ask you whether you can suggest any sources: digital or print that will help be understand that natural light photography much better. I am talking about portraits.

Maybe there are books that have changed your approach and understanding?

Are the any tutorials that are outstanding?

Maybe your personal experience?

Will really appreciate your input.
Regards,
Alex.

Hi Alex.

I would be interested in such information too so I've just replied to keep the thread alive so to speak.

Regards
Bob

When doing weddings many years ago I liked to get the subject near a north window along with a large reflector for fill. The light this way is not harsh and it is very even. I use to really like this for the ladies. Use a tripod and adjust the reflector for the best fill. My reflector is white on one side and silver on the other and I much prefer the white. Hope this helps. There are some books out there and Gary Bernstein comes to mind. You can do the same thing out side if you have some trees to shade the direct sunlight. Men sometimes look better with direct light as it shows character. Google Gary Bernstein and I think you will find what you need or just Google natural light portrait photography. will

Thanks, Will.

I have certainly done some research, but all the info from Google is very chaotic. It is hard to fine a jewel from a lot of rubbish posts over there. That is why I turned to people here, who have mastered natural light photography.

On the other hand, I have a question to all who will come across and will know the answer - if I am to photograph a ballerina or a musician inside the castle or something like this, can it be done with only the natural light or I will 100% need to have flashed and studio lighting with me?

I hope it is OK to post an image from 1x.com here and ask other people on how do you think it was photographed.

http://1x.com/photos/member/24460/26165/

I want to learn how to photograph similar scenes and people.

Thanks and regards,
Alex.

Hi Alex,

there is no general answer. It depents on several points.
Here are some examples:

* Brightness, quality and direction of the available light at that location
* Camerasensor (high ISO, noise)
* Wanted f-stop (DOF)
* Fastest f-stop of the Lens
* Wanted output (e.g. size of print)
* Movement of the model
etc.

In general one can say, that low light produces less crisp pictures
compared with flash.

For low light:
Besides a sturdy tripod, I recommend a cable or electronic release to avoid
any camera shake. And as Will said, one or two reflectors are more than useful.

All the best

Frank

Thanks, Frank. How do you think this picture in the link is done?

The best thing would be to ask the photographer via OE-Mail.

Can you share the answer with me?

Frank

Frank, I did ask many weeks ago, no answer:-)
That is why I am guessing:-)

Hi Alex,


It is difficult to talk about other people´s photos, as it is unknown, how much post processing is involved.
But I suppose, that this photo is made with flash (and more than one lightsource).

Frank

Looks to be studio lighting to me.

Very masterfully done none the less.

B

Looks to be the studio lighting to me too.....just wondering how exactly it was done:-) Sadly, cannot get any answer from the photographer.

Try Scott Kelby - The Digital Photography Book (2). Very practical and succinct advice on the window lighting technique. Also Annabel Williams on using doorways to even the light distribution.

Peter

I don´t think is so much dificult to do. That is light coming from one side, for shure continuous artificial light or a window light. You can test this at home with no dificulties. But there are also a filter, colour filter, or in photoshop or a gelatin filter of the light source, if is artifical, because tones are warm, and that white dress or is not white or have a colourcast over it, but i presume is realy a colour filter, because skin tones are not natural. Also dependes of the light source power, you can do this with 100 ISO with no problem at all. I presume there is also some negativ compensation in the camera exposure.

Well, not my kind of photography, so maybe i´m wrong :)

Filtered, natural light is always the best.

I personally prefer 'soft' natural light (cloudy day with no sun getting through, outdoors) and fast prime lens... here is a video I found which somewhat covers the subject...

http://www.ehow.com/video_5238594_portraits-natural-light.html

...if the light (outdoors) is not 'soft' enough ('harsh' light) you may try to make it 'soft' by either using shades to make the main light source 'softer' or by introducing secondary light sources using reflectors or flashes reducing the light dynamic range, thus 'making' the light 'softer', or you can use the combination of the two... but I think the best results can be achieved on a cloudy day...

some portraits look good to me even in 'harsh' light, but I would say they are exception...

of course, it is usual in portraiture to put the background DoF out of focus, i.e., you try to use longer lens focal lengths, come closer to the subject and soot wide aperture... perspective depends (solely) on the distance of the subject, so the lens focal length may be dictated by a desired perspective, a 'standard' for portraiture focal lengths is in the range between about 70 to 120ish mm 35mm film equivalent, if you have full-frame or larger format sensor or film, for the same framed scene, you will have longer focal length in comparison to smaller sensors, thus shallower DoF... I personally sometimes like to put even portions of the face DoF out of focus which could usually be achieved by shooting closer with a very wide aperture...

probably it is difficult to explain why would one be attracted to portraits, and how one judge their quality, probably this discussion would be beyond the scope of this thread...

at the end it would seem that all hinges on taste and personal preference...