Experimenting with Light

I took many portraits of my wife for this exercise, experimenting with both natural light (indoors and outdoors) and artificial light, using off camera Speedlite flash. I do not have access to professional equipment; to be frank, portraiture is not a subject that interests me sufficiently to invest in additional equipment. Nevertheless. it is useful practice to understand the different light sources for general use.


There were some disastrous attempts at using artificial light; thanks to digital, one can experiment with the flash at different distances and angles, with and without a diffuser.

All the images were taken using a tripod. Where flash is indicated, this is Speedlite 430EX II, used off camera (hand held) with a diffuser in these images. A degree of post processing was used using Camera Raw in Adobe Photoshop CS5; this consisted mainly of filling in shadow areas,  though I have found that reducing clarity (thus increasing softness) improves portrait shots too.

Canon EOS 450D with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. f16; 1/8; ISO 800 focal length 47mm

This image was taken in deliberately difficult conditions, back lit from the window in my wife's study. This was a deliberate attempt in experimentation - the next image shows how light could be used more effectively in the same environment; I viewed this exercise as experimental rather than necessarily obtaining top quality images. That having been said, this works quite well; the post processing reduced the shadow contrast, and clarity was reduced to add softness. The window itself is a distraction.

Canon EOS 450D with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. f13; 1/10; ISO 800 focal length 50mm

The portrait is taken in the same position but this time with the natural light from the right. I asked my wife to look slightly towards the light, this reducing shadow. Limited post processing. The skin texture is very good in this image, an advantage of using diffuse natural light.

Canon EOS 450D with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. f4; 1/60; ISO 400 focal length 40mm

 Particular difficulties photographing subjects with glasses are reflective and shadow problems. In the first two images, my wife's glasses cause no reflective or shadow problems, a leading advantage of natural light. It is very difficult to avoid either problem with artificial light, particularly a flash. Kelby (2011) provides a very clever method of fixing reflection within Photoshop but I tried to avoid the problem by positioning the flash from below.

Overall, this works reasonably well. The shadow effect from the glass frames is minimal (and could be eliminated by very careful post processing).The light from below provides a differential skin toning.

Canon EOS 450D with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. f16; 1/90; ISO 200 focal length 70mm

Perhaps the most challenging light was low evening light. I took many images in the natural light; the shadows were particularly difficult to handle, and my wife inevitably squinted in the brightness.

Canon EOS 450D with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. f19; 1/60; ISO 320 focal length 70mm

Taken at the same time and in the same location, I then experimented with fill in flash from the right, and my wife's stance changed to facing the camera.

This works better in my view - the flash has not caused any reflective or shadow problems (I used a low manual setting.

Limited post processing was used in either of the last two images.

This exercise has helped me to understand the issues caused by the available light - the experimentation was useful and challenging. The quality of the results are mixed but that is in the nature of the experimental exercise.

Reference: Kelby, Scott (2011) The Adobe photoshop CS5 book for digital photographers New Riders