Photographers use light as an essential tool. The studio photographer mostly uses artificial lighting to create the effects of shadows and light, whereas outdoor photographs take advantage of natural light. It requires the student, hobbyist, or professional photographer to learn the interplay of light and its effects on the photograph.
As a photographer with over six decades of experience in the studio as well as outdoor photography, Micheal Grecco provides insights about the use of light in his book, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: the Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography.
Here’s a look at how natural light brings these photos to life. The black-and-white shot captures sharp contrasts and intense detail, showing the dramatic impact of light and shadow. The sunlight plays across different scenes and highlights its versatility, from a sunlit smile to the texture of sand on the skin. These examples beautifully demonstrate natural light’s ability to enhance every subject it touches.
Ant Adam Photographed by Michael Grecco
Yoakam Dwight Adam Photographed by Michael Grecco
Cross Roger Photographed by Michael Grecco
Duchovny David Photographed by Michael Grecco
Girl playing ukulele in Hawaii photographed by Michael Grecco
Houda Hasselblad Photographed by Michael Grecco
Reynolds Dane Photographed by Michael Grecco
Sony Campaign shot in Hawaii Photographed by Michael Grecco
The Nuances of Natural Light in Photography
Natural light offers a depth and variety that can be challenging to replicate in a studio, even with the most advanced lighting technology. For photographers, observation is crucial in harnessing the full potential of natural light. It is essential for the photographer to look at the world first through their own eyes, unfiltered by the viewfinder or lenses of a camera. This approach mirrors that of artists like DaVinci, who would meticulously study his subjects and their surroundings at different times of the day to see how shifts in light altered their appearance. Similarly, photographers can tap into the unique qualities of natural light—be it the warm tones of sunrise, the stark shadows of midday, the diffuse glow on cloudy days, or the enchanting light during the golden hour—to create compelling images.
On another note, natural light is not restricted to outdoor photography, no matter the setting, natural light is an essential tool for the photographer. In the daytime even without artificial lights, interiors have a natural light. Outdoors or indoors natural light changes the perception of the subject and becomes a relevant part of it.
The Time of Light
Unlike artificial light, natural light cannot be controlled by the flick of a switch. It can be anticipated by study and observation. Instead of returning to a scene for months, sketching and planning the picture like DaVinci, a photographer today should invest some time in studying the scenes of their photographs at various times of the day. The natural light of dawn, mid-day, golden hour, and dusk will have different views of shadows, light, angles, and perception that will drastically alter the scene. The background, foreground, and the subject itself will be altered by the time of light.
Contrasting times of the day can not only affect the landscape photo but also the portrait, action shot, and special effects photographs. The softness or fiery reds of sunrise, the hardness of the noonday light, and the muted light of dusk will provide the same subject with distinctively different end results when photographed. The subject and its environment, the interplay between shadow and light are key to using natural light in photography.
Photographers use light as an essential tool. The studio photographer mostly uses artificial lighting to create the effects of shadows and light, whereas outdoor photographs take advantage of natural light. It requires the student, hobbyist, or professional photographer to learn the interplay of light and its effects on the photograph.
As a photographer with over six decades of experience in the studio as well as outdoor photography, Micheal Grecco provides insights about the use of light in his book, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: the Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography.
Here’s a look at how natural light brings these photos to life. The black-and-white shot captures sharp contrasts and intense detail, showing the dramatic impact of light and shadow. The sunlight plays across different scenes and highlights its versatility, from a sunlit smile to the texture of sand on the skin. These examples beautifully demonstrate natural light’s ability to enhance every subject it touches.
Ant Adam Photographed by Michael Grecco
Yoakam Dwight Adam Photographed by Michael Grecco
Cross Roger Photographed by Michael Grecco
Duchovny David Photographed by Michael Grecco
Girl playing ukulele in Hawaii photographed by Michael Grecco
Houda Hasselblad Photographed by Michael Grecco
Reynolds Dane Photographed by Michael Grecco
Sony Campaign shot in Hawaii Photographed by Michael Grecco
The Nuances of Natural Light in Photography
Natural light offers a depth and variety that can be challenging to replicate in a studio, even with the most advanced lighting technology. For photographers, observation is crucial in harnessing the full potential of natural light. It is essential for the photographer to look at the world first through their own eyes, unfiltered by the viewfinder or lenses of a camera. This approach mirrors that of artists like DaVinci, who would meticulously study his subjects and their surroundings at different times of the day to see how shifts in light altered their appearance. Similarly, photographers can tap into the unique qualities of natural light—be it the warm tones of sunrise, the stark shadows of midday, the diffuse glow on cloudy days, or the enchanting light during the golden hour—to create compelling images.
On another note, natural light is not restricted to outdoor photography, no matter the setting, natural light is an essential tool for the photographer. In the daytime even without artificial lights, interiors have a natural light. Outdoors or indoors natural light changes the perception of the subject and becomes a relevant part of it.
The Time of Light
Unlike artificial light, natural light cannot be controlled by the flick of a switch. It can be anticipated by study and observation. Instead of returning to a scene for months, sketching and planning the picture like DaVinci, a photographer today should invest some time in studying the scenes of their photographs at various times of the day. The natural light of dawn, mid-day, golden hour, and dusk will have different views of shadows, light, angles, and perception that will drastically alter the scene. The background, foreground, and the subject itself will be altered by the time of light.
Contrasting times of the day can not only affect the landscape photo but also the portrait, action shot, and special effects photographs. The softness or fiery reds of sunrise, the hardness of the noonday light, and the muted light of dusk will provide the same subject with distinctively different end results when photographed. The subject and its environment, the interplay between shadow and light are key to using natural light in photography.