Available Light

I love to use available light–that is, any light that is available to use. Ubaldo demonstrates how to rope a calf. Ubaldo teaches this during the family missions team trip each year to the kids.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 250, ƒ/5.3, 1/250

When I first started shooting, I noticed very quickly that Ubaldo’s skin was just dark enough that with the light calf, he was getting lost in the photos. Also, as you can see in this photo, I didn’t use the flash. So, as a result, your eye goes to the background more than Ubaldo and the calf, which was where I wanted you to focus.

Compare that to the first photo and this photo.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 200, ƒ/5, 1/250–off-camera flash using the Neewer TT850 flash & Neewer 433MHz Wireless 16 Channel Flash Remote Trigger

I always prefer not to use a flash if the light works for me. However, if I can improve the photo and draw you using flash, I will use it.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 450, ƒ/14, 1/250–off-camera flash using the Neewer TT850 flash & Neewer 433MHz Wireless 16 Channel Flash Remote Trigger

When photographing Francisca Padilla, the gardener, I wanted to show that she was in the Agalta Valley. I wanted you to see the mountains. Well, the problem was where she needed to stand. She was backlit. So I am using the off-camera flash. My assistant holds it about 45º to my left and the subject’s right. This way, I could underexpose the scene, which helped the mountains pop slightly.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 4500, ƒ/6.3, 1/250

For the teacher’s photo, I chose not to use a flash. Instead, there was a large window on my left, a smaller strip of windows on my right, and overhead lights.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 9000, ƒ/6.3, 1/250

The photo of the girl at her desk is from the same classroom as the teacher above. I liked the light as it was and didn’t add the flash.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 400, ƒ/4.5, 1/100—Off-camera fill-flash using the Nikon SB-900 & SB800. The flash is on the Pocketwizard TT5 and triggered by the Mini TT1 on the Camera with the AC3 to control the flash’s output.

When I was photographing this scene without flash, the outside was overpowering the people, making them heavily backlit. So I added the flashes to help light the room up and balance it to the outside light. But, again, I wanted the audience to see the school’s location.

When do you use the flash?

You must know what you are trying to capture in each situation and why? Will the flash help you tell the story?

If you are looking for a simple formula or always use the flash kind of an answer, you will not hear that from me.

Mastering photography isn’t just learning exposure, lighting, and composition. Mastering photography is mastering the craft so you can control it to help the camera capture your vision.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 500, ƒ/8, 1/500

My parting Shot–Moonrise over Rancho el Paraíso located in the Agalta Valley of Honduras.