I’m Not a Natural-Light or Flash Photographer, but a Good-Light Photographer

Monday 29 May 2023, 20:10 by Nando Harmsen | 3,059 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

I use a lot of flash for my portrait photography. Nothing beats creating fantastic light on location. I usually blend it seamlessly with the available light. If that available light is good enough, I leave the flash in the bag.

I’m not a natural-light photographer or a flash photographer, but a good-light photographer.

I love flash. You can shape the light to suit your own wishes, without depending on the available light.

I prefer to blend it with the available light, so it looks natural. You can’t even tell that flash was used. The ideal situation, then.

Was it shot with flash, or not? Does it matter? As long as the light is beautiful, that’s much more important, I think.
If the available light is very beautiful, there’s no need for flash. Even though I love using flash, I leave my flashes in my bag. It’s not about having to use flash at all costs. All I want is beautiful light.

That’s also why I would never call myself a flash photographer. I’m not a natural-light photographer either, or rather, an available-light photographer.

Because that would place too many restrictions on me. I want the light to be as beautiful as possible. I don’t really care where it comes from.

When the light is this beautiful on location, I don’t mind bringing my flashes along for nothing. But if they’re needed, they can come out.
So, when I’m on location and the available light is fantastic, I use it. The condition is that I can place my model wherever I want.

Because the direction of the light is very important. If the light comes from the wrong direction, a flash has to be used.

In this example, I was with Roos in an old factory hall. I had brought my flashes, because it was indoors after all. However, the windows let in sunlight, giving me fantastic light to work with. So why would I add a flash?

It’s wonderful to play with the available light. The shadows add something, so don’t be afraid of them.
I had backlight to work with, and there were fantastic shadows. There were silos that let the light slip through and create a beautiful division between light and dark. I could position Roos anywhere, with the available light replacing my flash perfectly.

I don’t want to limit myself with ideals I’ve imposed on myself. A natural-light photographer is a photographer who doesn’t want to use artificial light on principle.

An available-light photographer doesn’t want to use flash, even when the light has an unattractive shape. In the same way, a self-proclaimed flash photographer would always have to use flash, even when it isn’t necessary.

If the available light is beautiful, I use it. If the available light isn’t beautiful, I get the flash. I want beautiful light, that’s what matters. I’m not guided by principles.
I don’t limit myself to those ideals. I simply want beautiful light. If it isn’t available, I add it in the form of flash.

In that respect, I think I can call myself a good-light photographer. What do you think? Do you impose these restrictions on yourself? Tell us in a comment below this post.

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