Indoor Portrait Shoot with Natural Light

I love portrait photography. Getting a shot both you and the subject love is a great feeling and something that they will hopefully cherish for many years to come. I do use off camera flash when I have to but much prefer natural light when I have the opportunity. It can provide a beautiful soft quality to the subject which can be difficult to replicate with a speedlight. That's not to say artificial light doesn't have its place. I do use it and enjoy doing so and you can get some ace results with it. Check out http://brettgardnerphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/off-camera-flash-portrait-in-flat.html to see what I mean.

If there is a large window available near to where i'm going to shoot a model I will always try to utilise it. The side of the subject lit by the window will provide the main light source and a simple reflector positioned opposite the window will bounce light back towards the darker side of the model, filling any unsightly shadows that may have formed. By moving the reflector you will be able to see the effect it is having and decide on its best position.

Becca 1

The window was used as the main light source with a silver reflector used to bounce a bit of light back towards the models right hand side.

Becca 2

The window's natural light was directly in front of the model with a silver reflector adding a bit of light to the right hand side of the face.

Becca 3

Similar to the first setup. The only difference this time was that the natural light was dropping off quickly so the lamp became the main light source. Any spill from the lamp was reflected back towards the model by using a silver reflector. 

Natalie Gail

Landscape photography can be very frustrating at times. You seem to be waiting an eternity for the weather conditions to become just right and all the elements to gel together. When they finally do you run round like a loon trying to capture as many beautiful images as you possibly can which is surely a recipe for disaster. I have found through experience that taking your time when planning the shot will help enormously when it comes to capturing that special moment. I recce places days beforehand even if the weather is foul as I can sometimes create a composition in my head or check where the sun will be at a certain time of day. I have found that even if conditions have changed since a previous visit I will still have a good understanding of a place and its mood. This can be vital if you only have a few minutes to capture the shot on the day.

Natalie Gail during low tide at Wells-Next-The-Sea

This image of 'Natalie Gail is a case in point. I knew the location well, knew where the sun would be at the time I wanted to shoot and had checked the tide times days in advance. The shot I had in my head required for the tide to be out and the boat to be marooned. I arrived a good 30 minutes before this shot was taken, set up the camera on a tripod and finessed the composition. By the time I was ready to shoot the sun was in the perfect position, just catching the side of the boat and its hull, a lovely reflection in the water. There wasn't a breath of wind and the fog was starting to roll in, the way it tumbles across the image from right to left adds a real sense of mystery and depth. The pair of geese that by happy accident had just landed beside the boat add a neat final touch to the image.

This is the sort of view that is often seen during quiet sun filled days in the depths of Winter on the North Norfolk Coast and being in the right place at the right time allowed me to capture it.   

A Walk in the Woods

I like to get out into the woods with my camera whenever I can. I like the solitude and the peace and quiet, just me, the animals and the birdsong. It's always great to explore new wild places, not that there are many of those left in England. Any time I have the chance to get away from the rat race and explore a woodland I haven't walked through before I take it. I feel like an explorer, never knowing what i'm going to stumble across next. There's a lovely little wooded area near my girlfriends mum's house with windy little paths and a beautiful small river snaking through it which is crystal clear, surely a haven for Kingfishers. The Fuji X100 is the perfect companion for such a walk as it's small and light yet so capable. It's great for wide angle as well as close up and macro shots and woodlands like this provide many great photo opportunities.

Low Winter Sun

Moss covered branches provide great detail shots.