Available Light - what does it mean?

Available light means nothing more than utilising natural and available light without resorting to artificial light sources.

I have been a passionate available light photographer ever since I first held my camera in my hand. Although I can handle artificial light sources and my warehouse couldn't be better equipped with them, I generally avoid using artificial light and only use lamps and flashes in extremely dark locations. However, this situation rarely arises and usually only when I have no say in the client's choice of location 😉.

I often get astonished looks on set because I "don't set up a big light at all." 😉 But my motto is always to use the available light first, even if the lamps are in the car for emergencies. Even my occasional efforts to experiment with a reflector on the beach always end up in the bin because, in my eyes, nothing really comes close to natural light.

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Where can you find AL?

Available Light (AL) comes in many different forms, e.g.

➤ on a window front in cafés or beautiful bright daylight studios

➤ as incident light in alleys through reflective buildings

➤ at the blue hour (twilight)

➤ at the golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset)

➤ Even on a cloudy afternoon

➤ and of course as direct sunlight

Available light using the example of backlight photography

I am particularly fond of backlit photography. In 70% cases, I therefore deliberately choose the sun behind my models in order to realise my personal image style. This may seem unusual to many at first, but the end result is nevertheless convincing with an atmospheric effect.

However, backlit photography is not easy and the biggest challenge is to create a sharp and clear image. The right moment and the right incidence of light must be present. Thanks to years of practice, backlight photography is now very easy for me, especially at sunset. Thanks to the reflection of the sun in my lens, I can immediately see how soft the light falls on my model and where exactly the fine line is between a face that is too light or too dark. Over time, you develop an eye for later editing while taking the photos and know exactly which settings are necessary and which angles are suitable for taking the photos.

Unfortunately, the time for golden light in the evening is very limited. For me, an hour or sometimes even half an hour before sunset is perfect for photography. This type of photography inspires me so much that I'm just in my flow and time flies by. I'll be sharing some tips & tricks and the different types of available light and how to use them in more detail in the coming posts.

Here are some examples of different types of available light photography with the corresponding conditions.

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Natural light in a bright daylight studio