5 Tips for Natural Lighting.

Light is the most important element in any photograph, sometimes the reason for the photograph. The ordinary can be made beautiful, in the right light. To master natural light, start looking at light at different times of the day and year. Start thinking about the light and the qualities of natural light. So let’s dive in and talk about natural light in photography. All of the images have not been retouched or altered.©LisaRamsay.

Photography lighting tip number one: Choose the time of day to photograph.

It can make a difference between an average photograph and a great photograph. Early morning and mid-late evening light is almost always the best time to photograph landscapes and any outdoor scenes. Midday natural light can be very harsh, with deep shadows and extreme brightness. Your highlight and shadow details could be extreme with blown-out highlights or no detailed shadows. This can be a recipe for image exposures that could be unpleasant. This photography’s morning light was very bright. The shadows are deep, with little details. The mid-tones are pleasant. The highlights are a little on the hot side, but just a small fraction. My intention was the create an image with details in the mid-tones so the viewer can see the reflections in the water.

Photography lighting tip number two: Weather and Time of Year are important too. 

Natural light has different tonal values and colors depending on the weather and time of year. Summer natural light is usually stronger and brighter than winter natural light. If it is rainy or overcast, the natural light will usually be mixed with precipitation elements and be different color tones. Softly lit cloudy days can be very appealing with skin tones. The side light happened because the sun was going down. It was important to me to photograph this scene with light streaming from one side. The afternoon natural light is flattering. The viewer can see details in the shadows. The mid-range tones are vibrant and flat, as are the highlights. The shadow detail was very important, so your eye looks from one end of the image to the other end.

Photography lighting tip number three: The Direction of Light.

The quality and direction of natural light are very important. Sidelight illuminates your subject from the side. Late day and early morning side light can be very beautiful for your subject. The backlight comes from behind your subject. When used properly, this can be the most interesting type of light. It is tricky at times. It took me time to master this, with many exposures to get the effect I wanted. Soft light is a very low light before sunrise. Rainy or snowy days usually have soft light. Top light comes from overhead. Summertime midday light or tropical sun falls into this category. Flat light happens in cooler, winter months, and regions. It can be dramatic with evening cityscapes and streets because the electric lights are pronounced with flat light. For the photograph with the single tree, the harsh summer light was coming from directly above. I have no shadow detail and my mid-tones feel little burned. However, I liked that aspect. I like I have cloud detail and grass detail, even if it feels burned. The pond photograph was created in the flat afternoon light. It feels muddy and mushy. Which is what I wanted to convey. I like the water reflections and the rolling clouds in the sky.

Photography lighting tip number four: Available Light.

This is the term for existing light from lamps, any kind of street lights, stadiums, stores, offices, schools, etc. You can create wonderful images with just available light or a mix of available/natural light. Available light is usually low light. This means you would need a tripod or have your camera steady with a low ASA/ISO. Most DSLR cameras have a high ASA/ISO numbers so you can also photograph in available light. Waiting and watching the natural light can create amazing work. I was looking out the window for about an hour, waiting for the sunset to be in the spot right behind the tall tower. Natural lighting during sunset hours can change very quickly. Take a few more images than normal if the light moves at lightning speed.

Photography lighting tip number five: The Color of Light.

Let’s take a look at Color Temperature. It is very easy to comprehend with some practice. Color temperature describes how cool or warm the light source appears. For example, incandescent lamps have a warmer, more reddish appearance than colder, bluer HMI lamps. Color Temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). Daylight on a clear day is about 6500° Kelvin—a mix of direct sun at 5500°K and skylight at 9500°K. Lights with lower color temperatures look red; those with higher color temperatures look blue. This chart is easy to follow. Spend time exploring your light settings on your camera. Create your photographs at different times of the day and with different weather scenes.

These photography lighting tips are just a starting point for your natural light photography. Natural light can be the most beautiful type of light. Understanding all of the aspects and challenges of natural light is necessary for your photography success.