Natural light can enhance an image when used effectively.
Using natural light for photography can be a convenient way to capture pictures without the use of flash or other artificial lighting. There are many considerations that can affect how you use natural light including cloud conditions, time of day and the subject of the photograph. A number of techniques can assist in utilizing natural light to its fullest potential to ensure that your photographs reflect your vision of what they should look like.
Instructions
1. Choose the time of day for your photography according to the desired results. Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on a sunny day will provide harsh light that creates dark shadows and glare on subjects. Silhouettes are best created closer to sunrise or sunset. In general, late afternoon to early evening and early morning sunlight will provide soft light that is most often sought out for portrait photography.
2. Check the weather forecast. If you are photographing high-speed sports that require a fast shutter speed, bright daylight will allow you a wide range of exposure choices. For portrait or landscape photography, some cloud or a light overcast can diffuse the sunlight giving it a more temperate feel with softer shadows. These conditions will narrow the dynamic range of the image.
3. Face your subject at a 90-degree angle to the sun if shooting in harsh, bright daylight. When photographing portraits, this will keep the subject from squinting. If needed, place a reflector, either on a stand or held by an assistant, facing the sunlight, on the opposite side of your subject. The reflector will bounce the sunlight back onto the shadow side of the subject and aid in evening out the harsh contrast. A reflector can also be placed at the subject's feet to help eliminate under-the-chin and eye shadows.
4. Photograph your subject inside beside a sunny window for natural-light photography indoors. This glass can act as a diffuser and provide a softer light than flash. The same considerations for time of day and use of a reflector apply using window light as they do direct sunlight.
