Make the most of natural lighting
Hands down, my absolute favorite source of lighting is the natural source: the sun! But on some days, good sun can be hard to find. I used to think that I had to rush out in the early morning or even late morning to get the best lighting. And while it’s true that sunshine is bright at those times, it doesn’t become optimal until later in the afternoon. Where I live (Pennsylvania, USA), the best time to get the best sunlight is later in the afternoon, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm. During that block of time, the sun is the highest in the sky, so the light is the most widespread, and coming from above, rather than from the side or at an odd angle.
Of course, you should know the basics of making the most of natural sunlight, but in case you don’t:
- Shoot with the sun behind you, directed towards your source
- When shooting people, have them look down or to the side in order to avoid squinting
- Don’t be afraid of shadow play! Some of the best tree & flower shots are often enhanced with the sun’s rays peeking through leaves, branches, etc.
Also, don’t shy away from cloudy days. Just as you can get sunburned on a cloudy day, you can also get some nice lighting, even if it is somewhat “filtered” by clouds!
Speaking of natural lighting, I really want to pick up Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography. I love natural lighting, and I’m always looking for ways to make better use of it!
Filed Under: General