Natural light photography

[tavshed]

Any pointers when trying to use natural light for photography? My wife doesn't want to use a flash with the newborn.

- Mike

[Ryan Stille]

What kind of camera? I like to use natural light. So I bought a camera with a large sensor (E-pl5) and use a fast lens (f1.7). With this setup I can shoot in much lower light than a point-and-shoot.

If you are using a point and shoot, the best advice I can give is use a tripod and the self timer. Then there will be no motion from you and you can use a pretty long exposure if the baby is not moving.

-Ryan

On Fri, Apr 19, 2013 at 8:54 PM, tavshed <tav...@tavshed.com> wrote:

Any pointers when trying to use natural light for photography? My wife doesn't want to use a flash with the newborn.

- Mike

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[tavshed]

Nikon D80

We don't know much about photography.

- Mike

[Ryan Stille]

Put a fast lens on it (something with a large maximum aperture (low f-stop number) and you'll be fine. A tripod and self-timer will help too.

You want maximum aperture and whatever shutter speed you need to get the exposure needed.

-Ryan 

[Stephen Beck]

The important aspects for photographing people without a flash are to have a darker background and have the subject facing towards the natural light source. If the background is light then it will wash out and make the subject look dark, multiplied by several times if the subject is not facing a light source. When taking photos of people outside on a sunny day it is almost imperative that you use flash otherwise the people in the photo will look dark against the background.

Be careful about strictly going to a fast lens, using a very wide aperture results in a depth of field that may be so short that your baby's nose and eyes might be in focus but their shirt and ears and hair will not. That camera is capable of taking excellent shots with a smaller aperture. Before going to an ultra fast lens I would look into getting a lens that uses all glass. You can get there cheaper than you can an ultra fast lens and it will make a more dramatic improvement in your photos. If your current lens has all glass rather than some glass and some plastic it will take good photos.

On Apr 19, 2013 8:54 PM, "tavshed" <tav...@tavshed.com> wrote:

Any pointers when trying to use natural light for photography? My wife doesn't want to use a flash with the newborn.

- Mike

[tavshed]

Thanks everyone for the replies and good pointers.

- Mike

[Collin Holcomb]

natural light from the North and East is 'gentlest' as well, as light from the North cannot cast a harsh shadow.  This is a really usable basic for when you're setting up shots.  If you can get the kid doing whatever in a room with North light any time of day, or East light after morning, everything will be 'softer' and more consistent.  Then just set your camera on full auto, override the flash to be always off, and shoot shoot shoot.  

For composition, imagine your potential shot is overlaid with a 3x3 grid, so any given shot is composed of 9 more-or-less equally sized boxes... then put the objects of interest at any one of the 4 corners of the imaginary central box.  For whatever reason, this rule of thumb will compose the heck out of about anything. 

On Fri, Apr 19, 2013 at 8:54 PM, tavshed <tav...@tavshed.com> wrote:

Any pointers when trying to use natural light for photography? My wife doesn't want to use a flash with the newborn.

- Mike

[David Knaack]

Depending on what her objection to the flash is, you might consider using a bounce flash. Point (or deflect) the flash to the ceiling. This provides soft illumination without being as harsh or startling.

You can also get very nice natural light shots by taking the photos near an open door exterior door (or floor-height window if you have one) . Try seating your wife holding the child near a door and experiment with the composition a bit. It might help to have a piece of white posterboard or sheet or something like that just out of the frame opposite the light source, to fill in too-deep shadowing (you might be surprised how much this impacts a shot once you know what to look for).

On Fri, Apr 19, 2013 at 8:54 PM, tavshed <tav...@tavshed.com> wrote:

Any pointers when trying to use natural light for photography? My wife doesn't want to use a flash with the newborn.

- Mike