The Kinds of Light
DEEP SHADE: In deep shade, like in woods, dells, woodland
streams, I keep the ISO as low as possible, open up the aperture,
and work mostly with still life.
MOTTLED SHADE: If I am in shade, but with shafts of sunlight, I
get out the diffusers, in particular the one
that lets the most light through. I have spent years trying to believe
that that little bit of sunlight filtering through on my subject would be
offset by all the shade, but at least in my case that does not work.
That little bit of sunlight is ‘hot’ and either blows out or makes it very
difficult to bring the whole image into balanced light. I just use the
diffuser and it works almost every time.
LIGHT SHADE: I like to believe that light shade is still light and I
don’t need diffusers but the resulting photos show that the edges of
the subjects, even though not lit with direct sunlight, still are too
bright and tend to blow out a bit. I just use the coarse diffuser (the
least opaque) and things work well. The light that clinks to reflective
parts of the subject is too bright for light shade.
HIGH OVERCAST SKY: This is traditionally the best light to
photograph in because the whole sky acts as a diffuser. If the wind
is down, so much the better. That being said if there is too much
light, even in the diffused sky, my resulting photos are almost
always better with the coarse diffuser, the one that is like a piece of
gauze or window screen. For me, light needs to be toned down.
DIRECT SUN: If it is direct sun I get out either a full light tent (of the
correct size) or the traditional translucent diffuser, the ones that
really are quite opaque. Many times I will put my own shadow
between the sun and the subject and that works well too.
Reflectors
In addition to diffusers, reflectors of one kind and color or another
can be very useful to redirect and shine light on the subject. I don’t
do this as much as I probably should but I intend to. Mostly I am
into diffusers.
Flashlights
I am not above carrying around one of those little LED flashlights.
“Fenix” is one of the main brands. I have one that takes a single