Natural light or Flash? - DPChallenge Forums

Carl Zeiss 35mm ZF f/2.0 Distagon T

01/05/2007 03:11:31 PM · #1

Which do you prefer? Why?

I prefer working with natural light, its rare that I use a flash unless its in an enclosed room or a reception hall thats too big to even consider natural light.

I still have a tough time using my External flash, sometimes I just dont get the settings correct and it blows everything out, I dont think I have ever under exposed a shot from the flash LOL

virtuamike

Nikon D2X

01/05/2007 08:07:47 PM · #2

Light is light. I'll shoot in anything.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/05/2007 08:18:10 PM · #3

Since natural light is so hard to come by ohhhh saaaaay after dark.... then learning to use your flash properly will be a huge advatage to. I actually prefer strobe lighting, but only because I can control it day or night and get the results I want everytime.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM Lens

01/05/2007 08:32:23 PM · #4

I prefer whatever lighting is necessary to get the image I want.

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

01/05/2007 09:05:48 PM · #5

..at least with natural light there's nothing you can really do about it so if it sucks it's not YOUR fault. I'll take that any day over screwing up a flash shot purely coz I'm not so smart sometimes.

:-)

Photologist

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/05/2007 11:06:44 PM · #6

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

..at least with natural light there's nothing you can really do about it

Sure there is. You can use a reflector. You can diffuse it. You can shade a subject out of direct natural light. You can use filters for natural light that aren't conducive to fabricated light. Etc, etc...

Message edited by author 2007-01-05 23:07:48.

fotomann_forever

01/05/2007 11:21:54 PM · #7

Originally posted by idnic:

I'm wit h Cindi. But, learning to balance the two is very important.

DjFenzl

01/05/2007 11:30:16 PM · #8

I like natural light for sunsets and astro-photography and flash for just about everything else.

jblaylockrayner

Nikon D2Xs

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

01/06/2007 02:57:07 AM · #9

I don't think you can say that one is better than the other - Both need just as much usage as each other. You could not photograph a portrait that is back lit by the sun and keep both exposures to show detail without each other. It all depends on what the situation needs and how to get the best picture from your environment.
A picture like this would not have been possible without using both ambient and artificial light.

Has to be said though the possibilities are endless.....
Good luck.
Jeff

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/06/2007 10:42:07 AM · #10

while i prefer natural light, i think you are really limiting yourself if you only learn how to work with one type of light. also, it's not always a matter of choosing between one or the other, but how you set up (ie, using reflectors, diffusers, etc).

strobed

natural

natural + strobe

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

01/06/2007 10:52:03 AM · #11

Hands down, the sun is the best light to play with. Using bounce boards, shiny boards, reflectors, mirrors to help supplement.

But, you have to shoot in sun light when the light is at it's best, which is just a few hours a day.

One more thought.

I love Deviled Ham.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/06/2007 11:01:03 AM · #12

ok...food for thought....
On this shot I did, can you tell if I used natural light or a flash??

Message edited by author 2007-01-06 11:07:31.

MattO

Nikon D4

01/06/2007 11:06:19 AM · #13

Originally posted by ShelleyK:

ok...food for thought....
On this shot I did, can you tell if I used natural light or a flash??

Sorry I dont know how to make it a link but you can view the larger version in my portfolio!

This link provided by Links R Us.

MattO

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/06/2007 11:07:40 AM · #14

when you post there is an icon 2nd from right at the top to put in an image number and have these display the image as a thumbnail to a portfolio photograph

01/06/2007 11:08:10 AM · #15

LOL I figured it out thanks, we musta been posting at the same time!

fotomann_forever

01/06/2007 12:55:35 PM · #16

We were playing a little game on the subject of How'd I light this not too long ago. It's often hard to tell the difference betweeen artificial and natural lighting, if it is done well.

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=511917

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/06/2007 01:22:19 PM · #17

So....is this done well enough that you cant tell the difference? :)

fotomann_forever

01/06/2007 01:23:35 PM · #18

Originally posted by ShelleyK:

So....is this done well enough that you cant tell the difference? :)

I can't ... but I am assuming it is artificial

Lee_Mann

Canon EOS-20D

01/06/2007 03:06:08 PM · #19

artificial should look natural, thats the whole point to make it look real and believable

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM Lens

01/06/2007 03:20:42 PM · #20

Originally posted by Lee_Mann:

artificial should look natural...

Only if that's the photographer's intent.

kopa21

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/06/2007 03:22:32 PM · #21

Originally posted by skiprow:

Great examples. Thanks !