natural light

Tips for Getting the Most out of Window Light

Thumbnail image for Tips for Getting the Most out of Window Light July 1, 2011

Don’t you love shooting in homes that have perfect windows?  The main window that I used in each of the following photos is on the right side of the photos.  But the room essentially had 1.5 walls of windows, so there was an enviable amount of light. I had fun experimenting with the different looks [...]

3 comments Read more

Find the 2nd Catchlight, then Shoot

Thumbnail image for Find the 2nd Catchlight, then Shoot March 28, 2011

Catchlights, as we all know by now, are one of the most important elements in any portrait.  And lighting your subject from the side is a common portrait technique in natural light photography, but one that can be a bit tricky. The problem, when shooting with side lighting, is that one side of your subject’s [...]

9 comments Read more

The Light Workshop – 1st Assignment!

Thumbnail image for The Light Workshop – 1st Assignment! February 16, 2010

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would participate in an online Natural Light workshop taught by Detra of Photography by Detra.  Detra invited me to participate in exchange for spreading the word about the class.  My first “homework” assignment is above and I’ve learned a good bit already. Detra has a forum set [...]

7 comments Read more

Reflectors. An Easy Boost to Natural Light Photography

July 9, 2009

We always hear that it’s better to take photographs in the shade than in direct sunlight.   Maybe it’s my camera, but my photos taken in the shade always look pretty much like the first image below.  Skin tones look gray andwell, shady.  The photos tend to be noisy and they just aren’t that great.  And [...]

15 comments Read more