Night and Low-light Photography Photo Workshop

in Figure 4-4. With the model posed against the

wall, the light was streaming across her face from

left to right. I photograph using the light from

this particular window a lot because of the soft

late afternoon sunlight that passes through it.

Usually the blinds are pulled up and I diffuse the

light more with a handheld diffuser, but in setting

up this photograph, the pattern the blinds made

seemed to fit the mood. You can use anything to

create patterns with the light.

When used correctly, the window light acts like a
large studio softbox, producing a very flattering,
even light. And with a few accessories, just about
any window with light coming through it can be
used to create great portraits.

The basics are very simple:

■   Pick a window that is large and unobstructed.



■   Place the subject next to the window, but not

in the direct path of the light.

■   Watch the light as it plays across the subject.



■   Take the photo.

Shooting a quick portrait using the light coming
in through the window doesn’t have to be a com-
plicated affair. A blank wall and some light com-
ing in through a window was all that was needed
in Figure 4-3.

The two extra pieces of equipment that can be
especially useful for natural light portraits are a
diffuser and a reflector. The diffuser reduces the
intensity of the light, while the reflector redirects
the light to where you need it.

There are many different types of diffusers avail-
able for photographers, from handheld models to
big screens, but when it comes to turning a too-
bright window into a softer light source, you can
really use any material, including a sheet. Just
remember to use a white sheet, as the color of the
light will be changed by any material it travels
through.

Because the source of the light is actually the
sun — a small, hard light source — anything that
you put between the light and the subject can
change that light. For example, change the angle
of the blinds in the window and you can create
patterns with that light. The hard light streaming
in through the window blinds created the pattern

ABOUT THIS PHOTO Mia was waiting to get back to the photo

shoot when I saw that the light coming in from the window to her left

was as good as any studio light that I could have set up. Taken at 1/60

second, f/5.6, and ISO 800.

4-3