Topten tipsfor
difficult light
HollyWrensharesheradvice
1
reachfora reflectorAcheap
andsometimessuperioralternativeto
flash,reflectorscanbeanamazingsource
oflightindullorovercastlightconditions.2
reflect withwhat’savailable
Reflectorsdon’thavetobefancyor
purposebuilt.Anywhiteorsilversurface
youhavewillhelpreflectlightbackat
yoursubject.3
Prepareforchanging
conditionsNaturallightis
unpredictable,sounlessyou’reinaclimate
whereacloud-freedayisguaranteed,
prepareforchangeableconditionsinlight.4
AvoidmiddaysunAsarule,
shootingthroughmiddaysunis
tobeavoided,oftenitistooharshand
veryhighinthesky,makingitdifficultto
manipulateandcontrol.5
FacethelightIfnaturallightisall
youhave,it’snormallyeasiesttoface
yoursubjectintothesun,whetherhard
orsoft,asthiswillilluminatetheface.6
GettingcreativeDon’tassume
becausetheconditionsaren’tperfect
youcan’tproduceanawesomeportrait.
Usethelightyouhaveandgetcreative!7
exposeforhardlightWhen
facedwithhardlight,especially
whereitisonlyashard,exposeforthe
highlightsandnottheshadows.8
AddflashnaturallyUsing
diffusedflashinasoftboxand
featheringthelightaroundfromthe
directionofnaturallightwillhelpyou
blendittolookrealisticwhenaddingflash
tonaturallight.9
WorkfastOftennaturallightchanges
withinhoursorminutes,sotryand
moveasquicklyaspossible,afortuitous
beautifulbreakinlightmightnotlastlong!10
PlanplanplanIt’s good to be
as prepared as possible. Predicting
roughly the light and time of day you want
to work, as well as planning your location,
will ease the pressure during the shoot.Techniques
Dabbled
window light
Using natural
dappled light
through the window
in a fortuitous
moment creates a
beautiful effect