Working with existing light

Photographing with available light

Available light photography holds a special fascination for many photographers. It involves working exclusively with the available light without using additional light sources. The prerequisite for this is a good understanding of how light works and how to get the best out of the available light sources. In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about photographing with available light - from the different types of light and suitable light sources to practical tips for different genres of photography.

What is available light?

Available light literally means "available light". In photography, this refers to both natural daylight and artificial light that is already available at the shooting location. This can be sunlight, moonlight or the light from street lamps and shop windows. Additional light sources such as flash units or continuous light are not used. The appeal of available light photography lies in its authenticity and naturalness. Shots with available light often appear more atmospheric and authentic, as they reproduce the lighting conditions and the atmosphere of the moment without distortion.

Light in photography

Light is an essential component in photography that significantly influences the perception of an image. It plays a decisive role in creating brightness, contrast and color in the photographed image. But not all light is the same. The following four aspects have a major influence on how light appears in an image.

Intensity refers to the brightness of the light. Bright light sources such as the sun or a spotlight create intense shadows and high contrasts, while weaker light such as candlelight or diffuse daylight shows softer shadows and lower contrasts.

The direction of the light influences how shadows fall and how the subject is modeled. Light from the front, from the side and from behind creates different effects and moods. For example, frontal light is used to minimize shadows and emphasize details, while side light emphasizes depth and details. Backlighting can create a dramatic silhouette.

The quality of light describes whether the light is hard or soft. Hard light creates strong, pronounced shadows, soft light creates softer transitions and less pronounced shadows. A cloudy sky, a large diffuser or light through a window are examples of soft light. Direct sunlight without a diffuser is referred to as hard light.

The color of light plays an important role in photography and is measured in Kelvin (K). Different light sources have different color temperatures, which can influence the mood of a photo. Warm light (below 3500 K) creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, while cold light (above 5000 K) can convey a matter-of-fact, sober mood. Natural daylight varies throughout the day from warm tones at sunrise and sunset to cooler colors at midday.

Light sources in available light photography and their advantages and disadvantages

There are various light sources available to you in available light photography, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Sunlight is one of the most commonly used light sources. It provides natural and intense lighting, which is excellent for both portrait and landscape photography. The biggest advantage of sunlight is its natural color rendition and high intensity during the day, which delivers good results even with shorter exposure times. However, direct sunlight can create harsh shadows and overexposed areas. In addition, when working with daylight, you are heavily dependent on the weather and the time of day, which makes it difficult to plan and take pictures.

Window light is softer than direct daylight due to the refraction and scattering of light on the window pane. In this way, the window glass acts as a diffuse filter, directing the light rays in different directions and thus reducing the intensity of the light and the hardness of the shadows. In addition, the daylight sometimes does not hit the window directly, but is first reflected by surfaces such as walls and floors. The soft and even light is ideal for portraits, food and product photography. Window light can be easily controlled using curtains or blinds to regulate the amount of light. However, window light is also dependent on the time of day and the weather. In addition, the subject's freedom of movement is restricted as they have to stay close to the window, and the quality of light can vary depending on the orientation of the window.

Artificial light sources offer a flexible and creative lighting option, especially for night shots. They are independent of natural lighting conditions and enable creative lighting scenarios and image moods. However, artificial light can also appear unnatural. Color distortions caused by colored light sources are a common challenge that may require post-processing.

Popular artificial light sources in available light photography

Shop windows provide bright and interesting lighting that is particularly suitable for portraits and urban scenes. They are characterized by large illuminated areas, high light intensity and often attractive colors that create interesting reflections and backlighting. In addition, shop windows are easily accessible in urban environments.

Neon lights and billboards create a moody and often colorful atmosphere - ideal for creative portraits after sunset. The vibrant colors and high light intensity glow well even in the dark and offer creative possibilities for light and shadow. However, neon light can lead to color distortions that need to be corrected in post-processing if they are not desired.

In interior spaces such as concert halls or subway stations, the lighting on location can create atmospherically exciting images. Such interiors are often equipped with various light sources, including neon tubes, spotlights, spotlights and atmospheric, soft light. These light sources can create exciting effects by highlighting certain areas and casting interesting shadows.

Candlelight provides warm and intimate lighting. It creates a cozy atmosphere with soft, diffused light and allows for very atmospheric portraits and interior shots. Candlelight is usually easy to arrange, but has a relatively low light intensity that requires longer exposure times or high ISO sensitivities of the camera. Flickering light can also lead to uneven illumination.

Which cameras and lenses are suitable for available light photography?

In principle, available light photography is possible with any camera. However, there are some aspects that help to improve the image results. If you frequently take photos in low ambient light, we recommend cameras that show little or no image noise even at ISO 3,200. This is particularly important if you frequently take hand-held photos. High image quality is best achieved with cameras with a large sensor, such as those in the full-frame class. If you have a tripod with you and can keep the ISO sensitivity low, nothing stands in your way, even with smaller sensors. A camera with a fast and precise autofocus system, even in low light, is also an advantage. An electronic viewfinder can be helpful to adjust the image in real time and set the exposure correctly.

When it comes to lenses, fast fixed focal lengths and zooms are particularly recommended. Lenses such as 50 mm f/1.8, 85 mm f/1.4 or zooms with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 allow a lot of light onto the sensor and enable a shallow depth of field, which is an advantage in low light and for creative effects.

In addition, image stabilization is helpful for both cameras and lenses to reduce camera shake during longer exposure times. This is particularly useful when working without a tripod.

Useful accessories for available light photography

There are various aids for available light photography that help you to make the most of natural light sources. A reflector, for example, can work wonders by gently reflecting the available light back onto your subject, brightening up shadows. With a tripod, you can use longer exposure times without blurring your images. Filters such as ND filters or polarizing filters help you to control the exposure and minimize distracting reflections. An ND filter reduces the amount of light hitting the sensor, enabling longer exposure times even in bright daylight. A polarizing filter can increase contrast and make colors appear stronger by reducing unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces.

What should I bear in mind when taking portraits in sunlight?

Portraits in sunlight are a particular challenge, as harsh sunlight can create unflattering shadows on your model's face and reflections and glare spots in the lens. To lighten shadows on the face, it is best to use a reflector. These are available from many manufacturers and can be opened up. So-called folding reflectors take up little space on the move and are only unfolded to their full size at the shooting location. Position your model so that the sun comes from behind or from the side and use the reflector to throw the light back onto the face. This will give you a softer light and avoid or reduce unwanted shadows. If possible, you can also move your portrait shots to the early morning or late afternoon hours. Then the sunlight is softer and warmer, which is particularly flattering to the skin and skin tones.

How do you photograph portraits at night?

Night portraits place special demands on the photographer and their equipment. Use artificial light sources such as streetlights, shop windows, car headlights or neon tubes to illuminate your model. Position your model as close as possible to the light source in order to illuminate the face well.

If you are shooting handheld, make sure that the ISO sensitivity of your camera is high enough so that the exposure time is short enough to avoid camera shake. At the same time, it is advisable to use as fast a lens as possible so that you only have to increase the ISO sensitivity moderately. Lenses with a large aperture also enable creative effects with a shallow depth of field and exciting plays of light in the bokeh. If you want to avoid image noise, you can also use a tripod. However, you will then be less flexible when taking portraits.

How do you take picturesque landscape shots?

Timing plays a decisive role in landscape shots in available light photography. The best lighting conditions are often found in the golden hour shortly after sunrise or before sunset. The soft, warm light brings out the colors of the landscape particularly well and creates long, picturesque shadows. Use a tripod to allow for longer exposure times and to obtain sharp images even in low light. A polarizing filter can help to make the sky look more dramatic and the colors more intense. Experiment with different perspectives and compositions to capture the uniqueness of the landscape.

Which natural light source is suitable for food and product shots?

Für Food- und Produktaufnahmen ist weiches, gleichmäßiges Licht ideal. Tageslicht, das durch ein Fenster einfällt, ist eine hervorragende Lichtquelle. Platzieren Sie Ihre Motive in der Nähe eines Fensters, durch das viel diffuses Tageslicht einfällt. Um harte Schatten zu vermeiden, können Sie einen Diffusor wie ein dünnes weißes Tuch oder einen Faltdiffusor verwenden, um das Licht zu streuen. Ein Reflektor auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite des Fensters kann ebenfalls helfen, Schatten aufzuhellen und eine insgesamt ausgewogene Beleuchtung zu erzielen. Verwenden Sie ein Stativ, um Verwacklungen zu vermeiden, besonders bei Nahaufnahmen.

Conclusion

Available light photography offers many opportunities for authentic and atmospheric images. A good prerequisite for this is a good understanding of the properties and effects of light and the ability to deal creatively with different lighting conditions. Whether it's the warm light of the golden hour, soft window light or the exciting effects of artificial light sources such as neon tubes and street lamps - available light photography rewards you with unique and expressive results.

With the right equipment, such as a camera with good low-light capabilities and fast lenses, as well as useful accessories such as reflectors, tripods and filters, you can make the most of the available light. Our practical tips for portrait, night, landscape, food and product photography will help you get the best out of every light source and create impressive images.