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• Beginner Photography
Shooting with Natural Light • Landscape Photography
• Wildlife Photography
BY CHARLES HILDRETH | 57 COMMENTS
LAST UPDATED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2018 • Portraiture
• Post-Processing
• Advanced Tutorials
People often ask me about my post-processing when they look over my
photography. To be honest, the post-process I’ve developed has been a
combination of small tutorials I’ve taken over the years from artists I respect. I’ve LEVEL
since developed my own style from these tools, but the most important part of
post-processing is having an image that will take it on well. In this article, I will be
YOUR HORIZONS
talking less about the post-process and more about how to utilize natural light. In
order for proper digital development, the shot has to be versatile for the final
result.

Do you want something dark and soft? Do you want something bright and
warm? These are just a few questions to ask yourself when setting up a portrait
session.

The greatest joy for me, as a photographer, is utilizing light to produce a moving
image. This can come in any number of forms, from the smallest single strand of Become a Photography
light against a face or a subject in a field mid-afternoon. It’s imperative to train Life Member Today!
the eye to the spectrum of natural light. The only way to do so is to shoot
constantly.
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In this first photograph, I shot my subject near the doorway of her apartment
complex. Amazing light seems to find itself in doorways, or under the shade of a
tall building, especially under an awning. I had her move directly to her right,
away from the entrance, so I could bring in some reflection off the window. If you COMPOSITION & BLACK & WHITE
CREATIVITY PHOTOGRAPHY
do this, you’ll have to watch closely to your reflection and also her shadow,
especially if she has dark hair. I love shooting subjects in this light and it appears,
no matter what time of day, to have that golden hour feel. It’s great for
headshots, especially. Since this shoot was just an impromptu one with a friend,
and our first time working together I had decided to leave the reflector at home. I NIGHT SKY PORTRAIT
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
try to keep my portrait shoots as basic as possible so I can get to know the
model. I can nitpick this image and wish I had reflected light onto her back and
her jawline (her right side), but expression and composition are all I’m focusing
on here. I feel there is something pleasant about imperfect lighting, it makes the
image feel less staged or forced, more natural, like a moment in this person’s life. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEOS

For this image, I photographed her with a Nikon D3s at f/1.8 using a Nikon D-
UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS
series (f/1.4) lens. I put auto-focus aimed with a single-point at her eye closest to
me (her right one). Since it was afternoon, light was enough to allow me to stay
at 1/400s shutter speed and 200 ISO. I like trying to stay within 200-400 ISO
when doing outdoor portraiture. I like having some feel of grain there, rather than
opting for low ISO ranges to make an image crisp. That is just personal
preference.

At this stage, the photograph I’ve captured has enough detail overall to make for
a digital RAW. None of the shadows are too harsh, allowing me to find small
details there if necessary. I can see it by the histogram clippings telling me there
are no red (blown out highlights) or blue (darkened shadows) on the image itself.
I know I can have full control over this image in Photoshop later and that is the
first step to a solid post-processing workflow with natural light.

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NIKON D3S + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/400, f/1.8

Now, we aren’t always going to be so lucky and have ample light, the chance to
pose a subject, or even have an option to be outdoors. In this situation, a
subject’s environment can lend extra details about who they are. So having a
vision for your composition is important.

Your best friend as a photographer using natural light is any source that allows it
in. This indoor photograph has plenty of brilliant light flooding in through the
right hand side. Sometimes moments are setup for you and being conscious of
how to expose the image is key. The other thing to keep in mind is the quality of
your images at different ISO. Older, less expensive bodies will start to get grainier
faster when you surpass 800 ISO. I knew this was the case when I took this
photograph, since I was using the Nikon D90 body. In order to maintain a crisp
image I kept it at 200 ISO, forcing me to shoot at f/1.4 (on the Nikon 50mm f/1.4
lens), with a shutter speed of 1/60. At this shutter speed it is difficult to have it
handheld and maintain focus. I had no other option, however, because any
elaborate setup would make this a non-candid portrait session, and I knew the
subject would not be interested. So being limited in my setup, I had to improvise
the kitchen table as a tripod and take a few shots to get the composition in
check. Once I had her perfectly framed, I waited until the moment she went in
between thoughts, before she spoke again, to capture her in this pose.

NIKON D700 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/1.4

This next image for me is what really started making me think about window light
in portraiture. The glass on a window really diffuses light so it pleasantly falls
onto a model’s face. It also offers a dreamy, thoughtfulness if the model is less
engaged with the camera/audience, and is more in her environment. I’ve framed
her in a way that really pulls her out from the background by letting shadows
engulf her left side. I also love how the post-processing technique I use rolls
through and lifts blacks/shadows, giving them that hazy look. In this image we
see a variety of shadow/light play, from the almost over-exposed window area to
the under-exposed shadows on her left. These flow nicely over her face, giving
her face some dimension with the shadow on her jaw, and leaving her eye bright
and in focus. Generally a window will provide as much light as you’ll need,
depending on how close the model is to it. In this image I shot her on a Nikon
D700 using the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D at f/1.4. I kept my ISO at 200, despite being
indoors. This allowed me to shutter her at 1/200s.

NIKON D700 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/500, f/1.4

Another image of this subject, we shot after quick clothing change and went
outside. We had nothing overhead to make even light across her face, but as the
sun was going down, we were able to make use of that golden light. There is still
a strategy to use here to make sure it is even though. I had her stand in the
middle between two tall buildings, so it could reflect the disappearing light onto
her from both sides. Early on in my photography I was primarily shooting wide-
open outdoors, while it offers great flexibility in shooting portraits, it’s equally
over-exposing the background. This typically happens when shooting with only
sky behind a subject, so if you’re able to find even light where the background
isn’t so transparent, a more comprehensive image can be produced.

As you may gather from this introductory post on natural light, there are never
any certainties. It’s about adapting to what you’re given. The best you can do is
to understand how light looks at different exposures, and the only way to find
what you like is to shoot. I started my photography exploration by going into
downtown Denver once a week, at least, any time of the day, and shooting. Once
I felt comfortable with low light situations in broad daylight, I moved my work
indoors to practice. Understanding how natural light works is the foundation to
not only producing an image of any kind, but it’s also essential for strong post-
processing. The two go hand-in-hand.

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57 COMMENTS Newest

Tienie Crous
December 22, 2018 3:31 am

Charles,
I’m from South Africa and an artist. I came across one of your photo’s that I would like to
paint and if possible would like your permission to use. How do we go from here?…..If you
have the time I would like to discuss this possibility with you. Thank you.

0 Reply

fake me
November 24, 2016 8:41 pm

THis is a fake comment

BTW your article is interesting.

-1 Reply

WTF
Reply to fake me November 24, 2016 8:42 pm

WTF Silly person

0 Reply

Fat person
Reply to WTF November 24, 2016 8:51 pm

This is silly who started it blablablablablablablablabla

0 Reply

Guest
January 1, 2015 12:20 am

Funny, when I saw the edited version of the first photo I immediately thought hey, those
colours make this photo look strikingly similar to the style and work of Charles Hildreth?
Then what do ya know, turns out this article is indeed by Charles Hildreth! Haha. Great
article. Love your work Charles.

1 Reply

youssef
June 1, 2014 10:57 am

excuse me what is your camera

0 Reply

nick alamanos
May 22, 2014 9:27 am

Thanks for the article and the examples.

0 Reply

philippe
March 15, 2014 3:55 pm

Hello Charles,
Thanks for the stories and detailed explanations. what’s also very interesting is the
relationship you build with your models to make them pose, or to capture, “that” moment…

0 Reply

Nick Alamanos
February 28, 2014 7:15 am

Enjoyed your post and some very nice examples of what you can do with no flash.

0 Reply

Charles Hildreth Author

Reply to Nick Alamanos March 3, 2014 12:37 pm

Thank you!

0 Reply

Chandan
February 27, 2014 2:23 am

I love shooting with natural light myself. Some of my best results often come while shooting
sans any lights/strobes. Am still a bit of an amateur but would love some you folks to check
out my photography at 500px over at: 500px.com/chandanksingh

0 Reply

Kurnia Lim
February 25, 2014 8:23 pm

Nice, I mostly use natural light and reflector sometimes, only 30% flash usage. I love that
B/W 2nd picture and the 3rd one, I love those shadows on the face. The 1st and last picture
also good but I prefer more shadows on the face if it’s about personal taste. Well,
photography is market for the eye right? Just like food is market for the tongue, you might
like a lobster while I hate it. Well, it maybe different if we shoot for client, because we have to
produce image for our client’s eye, this is what I confuse sometimes and need advice on this.
When you shoot for client, do you shoot according to your personal taste or guess what the
client’s like? Or maybe ask what kind of photo, etc. Thank you, I love your blog.

0 Reply

Charles Hildreth Author

Reply to Kurnia Lim February 27, 2014 8:48 am

I agree with you! To each their own, right?

As far as shooting for the client, it’s a tricky answer. My best advice is stay true to
yourself. If the client was referred to you by your work, then you know they trust in your
style. If someone referred them to you without seeing your work and they had a specific
job for a photographer, then you may need to adapt to their idea. If it doesn’t seem like a
good fit, do yourself a favor and take work you know you will enjoy – it will be beneficial
to both parties. I hope that helps!

0 Reply

Igor
February 25, 2014 4:20 am

Charles Hildreth, i follow you on 500px love your work! Thanks for the article!

0 Reply

Charles Hildreth Author

Reply to Igor February 25, 2014 2:21 pm

Igor – thank you for the follow and supporting my work!

0 Reply

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