For the majority of my shoots I will be using flash in one way or another. I have a little fascination about lights and how I can completely change the dynamics of a picture. Just using one flash off camera is enough to give it some punch, some drama!
Above Image - Single Flash in Beauty Dish
However, lately I have really been enjoying using ambient light when I can. Sometimes this may mean having to push the ISO up to 800/1600 but the results have that natural softer feel to them.
I can't express enough how much I enjoy the freedom of shooting with ambient/natural light. Just dial in the exposure and go! It for me has taken away some of the distractions from connecting with your subject and creating some amazing natural light pictures.
Something that is becoming more apparent to me and with my work lately, is that I want to have a connection with my subject. Rather than get them to pose the way you might traditionally do, I just want to shoot them for being them.
I've been trying to create more intimate portraits in my work... I don't mean intimate in the way of nude or implied type shoots, but by trying to capture the emotions. And by only utilizing the ambient light and less distractions like strobes the better.
Since I have been trying to shoot more like this with natural light, and creating emotive images it has made me re think my gear and how I can maybe simplify it... Just so there is less choice in lenses or focal length... Less distraction from creating what I want to create.
I know this is a bit of a ramble but this is how it makes me feel shooting with window light, ambient light, natural light... What ever you want to call it.
There will always be a place for me and flash photography but my preference as of now is going to be ambient light first. Simples! Try it for yourselves, even using your iphone you can create some pretty amazing portraits with a window.
And as a side note if anybody is looking for help getting to grips with your camera and how to get the best out of it, give me a shout :)
Cheers!