Comments on: Shooting with Available Light – Lifestyle Portraiture

By: Len Firewood

Len Firewood — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:16:37 +0000

Hi – being an amateur photographer with a strong bias towards landscapes – portrait shots or people focused shots are not what I usually do more than quickly glance at. Any blow out’s in landscape photography is usually a no no (although there are some who like the creative licence to include them in certain settings) so my first reaction to the first 2 shots in this article as somewhat negative but then I realised that was because of my bias towards landscapes – once I had recognised that I was able to view the photos in a different light as it were. Still not a great fan of portraiture but I appreciate the skills employed here and indeed the creative daring to go all out in emphasis of your subject.

By: Louise Jaffe

Louise Jaffe — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:05:04 +0000

Your images are beautiful. We should all be so lucky to be your subject. I have the reflector and a medium format camera. I have yet to go digital. Can you offer any advice? Which camera do you use?

By: PETERSON GWARO

PETERSON GWARO — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:57:55 +0000

I am very happy to read from your tips that are simplifying the necessary knowledge that one should have when shooting. i could like to have a concern in relation to using of FLASHES and POSITION that one should be when shooting in day light. i used to tell somebody to face the light when shooting, this is because the light from the sun could have interfered with flash and spoil the picture. now you are recommending that the light from the sun should be at back of the subject something which i fear could cause collision . sometimes you might find that the light at the back of the subject is some how brown and the subject is like the same. will this not distort the image of the picture? otherwise thanks for reaching photographers through your spontaneous effort, God bless you.

By: asasd

asasd — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:20:06 +0000

hi
with the available light, less or more we can have great photos if we adjust our camera properly.

By: ScottC

ScottC — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:59:03 +0000

I’ll make no claims about portrait photography but I do appreciate the use of available light.

Not the same “scott”, BTW!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/5474389966/

By: Deepak

Deepak — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:10:39 +0000

Couldn’t believe the poor guy Scott was getting a hammering left right and center. He expressed his view though to an extent I disagree with him but is it too much of thinking or asking even from the esteemed writer of this beautiful article to spare him a rod ?

I understand that most people around us in the world we live in care less about where the other is coming from. But just not commenting on his posts or disagreeing with him is far better then calling the fellow names. If someone is at error what good will it do if all start taking sides and beating on him.

I have seen mere polite refrains win wars and create peace. Though my opinion hold no signifance in here since I hardly comment but I couldnt help but share that we can as sensible humans can do much much better then this. Our patience is a gift. Let us use it.

Thank You Veronique but I guess I was not able to get enough juice from this article. But others have. So I know it is just that I have not experimented with shaders and diffusers and hence it is my doing only. But thanks a lot for some good tips

By: Tenis Oakley

Tenis Oakley — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:15:00 +0000

I really like theses photos. Thanks for this awesome tips! And also beatiful photographs.

By: Rich Copley

Rich Copley — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:15:51 +0000

I find sometimes I can get a bit too hung up on gadgets and flashes and forget to just work with the big Speedlight in the sky. This is inspiring stuff – particularly as the weather is starting to improve here in North America.

By: Corne Smetsers

Corne Smetsers — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:34:48 +0000

Great article indeed, got 1 reflector but almost never use it… maybe gonna take it out of the closet soon!

But i’m afraid, living in Holland, we don’t have spectacular sunshine all day haha. Cloudy and rainy days are found every week. So the clouds are my natural softboxes . That in combination with my off camera flash helps me make my shots.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:17:31 +0000

i thought the article was great. You had some tips for me that I had not thought about before. As an amateur, I’m willing to try it all.