Does the thought of using anything but available light make you twitchy? If so, CMmember Amy Drucker, can relate. It wasn’t long ago that she considered herself strictly a natural light photographer. She has recently delved into using alternative lighting sources and couldn’t be happier! She’s blogging today about stepping out of her comfort zone.
Confessions of a Natural Light Photographer
by Amy Drucker
When people first find out you’re a photographer there are a few questions they inevitably ask: “Nikon or Canon?”; “Film or digital?”; “Studio or natural light?” And while it’s certainly true that photographers develop niches and exhibit preferences, I’ve never really bought into the idea that any of these answers have to be mutually exclusive. My love affair with photography started with a film camera and an interest in fine art. The bulk of my work was shot using available light. As I grew as an artist I developed a level of comfort with reading and manipulating “natural” light, so when I started making portraits, it seemed organic for me to continue shooting that way. Not to mention that learning how to use “artificial” light sources was a very scary prospect. So I avoided it. And I called myself a “Natural Light Photographer”.
Over time, as my business grew there were more and more images I wanted to make—photographs I could see in my mind’s eye—that seemed impossible to produce while working within the parameters I had set up for myself (on location, all natural light, around my schedule as the mother of two small boys). My experience with flash was limited to a point and shoot pop-up and the awful results it produced. I knew I didn’t want that. And I didn’t really want to go back to square one again (I had already done that once when I started shooting with a digital camera). But I kept coming back to the idea that I needed to be able to have more control over the light in my images. I bought a book. I scoured the Internet. I sought out an expert, CMmentor Jessica Gwozdz, and mentored with her. I rented, experimented, and practiced, and, only when I was sure that using artificial light didn’t mean sacrificing my style or selling out, I invested.
Like anything, it’s been a learning curve. But knowing that I am not at the mercy of the sun, or the time of day, or the weather? That I decide how much light there is? It’s opened creative (and business) doors for me. It’s freed me to spend more time on subject and composition and I’ve learned that stories can be told with any kind of light, that powerful images can be created on film or CF card, with a 50mm or an 85mm lens, a full-frame or crop sensor, Nikon or Canon. I still shoot the bulk of my images using available light and I love the unique qualities and challenges it presents. But I no longer consider myself a Natural Light Shooter. I consider myself a Photographer and I’ll use whatever tools I have at my disposal to bring the images that live in my imagination to life.
After all, isn’t photography about capturing light? To me, the source of the light is irrelevant—it’s the final image that’s my objective.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us, Amy! We so appreciate your insight!
Amy Drucker began her career as a photographer as an editorial shooter and fine artist. Her work has been exhibited at multiple galleries along the East Coast. Today she spends her days mothering boys and making portraits of children and the people who love them. She has an affinity for bright colors and strong coffee—and is on a mission to rehabilitate the school portrait. You can keep up with Amy’s latest work on her blog and Facebook page.
Want to learn more about studio lighting? Keep your eyes peeled for the next run of Jessica Gwozdz’s Lighting 101: Studio Lighting for Beginners.
Amy, your work is so lovely. It's great that you have shunned the labels and simply consider yourself a "photographer." :)
Great article Amy! I hope my exploration into use of artificial light is as successful as yours has been! Beautiful photos!
Thankyou so much for sharing this! I ventured into the world of studio lighting several years ago after being a "natural light photographer" for several years. I love that I have the freedom to set up my lights and backdrop and capture what I need to when the lighting outside isn't great. Learning how to using other light sources makes one a better photographer and sometimes being a "natural light photographer" is a dead give away for being a newbie! There is a lot more that I want to learn in this area and the possibilities are limitless once you know understanding lighting.
Thanks for sharing! I want to learn from Jes too soon. Beautiful images!
I too used to only (a few months ago in fact) shoot in natural light. But then I began to realize how I was limiting myself. I have just begun trying to learn about artificial light. While I don't yet own an external flash, I hope soon to be able to get one and practice with it.
Sara
Great read. Any suggestions on a good book to start?
Great article. I've found myself in the same boat. While I prefer natural light – there are times I feel uncomfortable or boxed in by not being able to use artificial light. I hope to begin learning more about OCF this year!
Just curious – would you mind sharing what studio lights you use?
@Lori Ivey – I use two Alien Bee strobes. I have a 400 and an 800. I usually use the 800 with a 30×60 softbox as my main light (although I've never used it at full power) and the 400 with an umbrella as fill. Sometimes I use natural light as the main and the 400 w/ umbrella as fill.
@Tabitha Kay – I don't actually have any good books on strobes but I did read a lot about the Canon Speedlite system while I was trying to decide whether to use those or purchase my strobes. My best resource for learning was the CM forum and others like it – and without wanting to sound like I'm pandering – I really learned a lot from two mentoring sessions with JesG. I had one session before I purchased my equipment – I wanted to really understand what I needed – and one after I had played with my lights a bit. If you decide to have a mentoring session, I recommend making a list of all of your questions and what you hope to come away with – in order to best utilize your time.
Amy –
Thanks so much for making the lighting thing seem a little less scary. Your photos are beautiful – you really seem to capture the essence of your subjects. I look forward to hearing more from you…
Hi Amy,
Love your photography! Thanks for sharing about this. I just started exploring off camera flash last week and your post encourages me to keep learning and not limit myself to only natural light.
PS: Thanks for sharing about your studio lighting setup too :)
Nomi
This blog post comes at such a great time for me, thank you! I have been wanting to get into learning studio lighting/OCF because of my move back to AK – very limited daylight in the late fall and winter, and thought it would be very wise to learn it so that I am not extremely limited myself. And as a photographer, I agree with you and others that we should all know how to use all sources of light, not just natural. I'm nervous wondering how long it will take me to get the hang of it, but I'm excited to try, learn, and grow. I thought this was really well written, and it's almost as though you wrote it knowing that I needed a post like this. ;)
It's a great post, Amy. You inspired me to learn more about my flash and other lighting. Thanks for sharing. And beautiful photos…
Amy, I love how you expanded your shooting and retained your fun style in studio. Jes is a great teacher. All the best, Romana
What perfect timing on this post… I ordered my 1st studio lights (alien bees/softbox/umbrella) today…. THANKS!!
What a great post. Thanks Amy for sharing your insight. I really need to escape my fright of escaping from just natural light.
Simply inspiring. Thanks Amy! I hope to get to this point myself someday soon, and you give me hope and encouragement with your words and your images. They are stunning and beautiful!
I love this article, Amy! It has encouraged me to learn how to switch on my flash….which is a start, right?
Thank you so much for sharing this really can be a scary thing. I think it is also just as scary for photographers that shoot indoors mostly I think might freak if they had a Natural Light session.
Just about to have a mentoring session with Jes myself, whose workshop ranks neck and neck with Sarah Wilkerson's on composition as being the Most Awesome Four Weeks in my photographing life. Hopefully after my mentoring, my images will remind me of Amy's.
I really related to Amy here. I too consider myself a 'natural light photographer'. I much prefer the images it produces. However, I was at the mercy of the volatile Irish weather and in the winter I had a 3 hour slot to get good images. And if the sun decided to shine and created wacky shadows, I lost some of that time. So, hating the pop up flash, I invested in a Nikon SB-800. I still dislike some of the harshness it creates, but I am learning.
Like Amy, I use natural light when available, but I know I have to learn to use artificial light sources to make the most of my time and equipment.
I do believe all of the ideas you have offered in your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for starters. Could you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.