Recommendation Request - Learning to use Natural Light

[chilli_vision]

Hi Forum,

I am trying to learn more about natural light in photography and using natural light whether direct or reflected, i.e. off a wall, window, etc, and wondered if anyone could offer any suggestions on good resources, books, websites, DVD's etc?

Regards
Matt

 

[daddy day care]

I found the Damien Lovegrove DVD "Using natural light on location" to be very good.

I think it may be on offer at Focus if you are going over the next couple of days.

Andy

 

[Ershin]

Hey Matt, possibly not the answer your looking for, but id recommend light, science and magic. its not strictly about natural light, per-say, in fact, it even includes bits using strobes. however, the core part of it deals with how light works from a photography-relevent physics point of view.

natural light, or strobe light, or whatever light you can conceive of is still light, and it all behaves the same way. once you understand how it works as it relates to photography, using any light, or combination of lights well is just a matter of a thought experiment, and only practise makes you faster at that.

that said, the only do-this-get-that parts of it deals with strobes, so if your looking for more or a how-to its probably not for you.

hope that helps

 

[itsdavedotnet]

Wow. A genuinely refreshing question.

As said above, light science and magic is *the* textbook...but it is indeed very much a lighting textbook. Hmm.

I don't know what to suggest, other than simply consuming vast amounts of photography and seeing what sticks.

You've piqued my curiousity now as to if anyone's written anything worthwhile on the subject...

 

[Ershin]

from memory i think ive seen some on the subject while browsing around on amazon, but never having the inclination to read im afraid i cant vouch for any - worth looking into if your interested though

 

[Garry Edwards]

That's a very good question and I wish I had an answer...

Basically light is light, wherever it comes from. Using (finding or modifying) light has to be the single most important part of photography but I don't know how you can learn about specifics, other than by setting yourself projects, for example (depending on the weather)
Go out one day and only photograph using direct, overhead sunlight and use reflectors and/or silks to control it.
Go out another day and only use backlighting, or rim lighting, or reflected light etc. Nothing beats learning from mistakes