Even with a room full of high end equipment it is next to impossible to perfectly mimic the benefits of natural light in photography. However, even natural light has its ranges, and some kinds of natural light are better than others to use in boosting your personal photo style. Learn all about how to use or manipulate natural light in your photography below.
The "Golden Hour" is a fantastic time for natural light photography, but not the only time that you can achieve great natural light photos.
Photo courtesy flickr.com via Edo Salon & Gallery
The term natural light might be a slight misnomer, considering that natural light varies by the time of day, weather conditions, and even the season. However, in almost all cases natural light is favored over manmade because even when viewing photographs our eyes prefer the colors, tones, and shadows that natural light creates.
There is no replacement for natural light, but by using the right equipment and the right settings on your digital camera you can come close to re-creating the effects of natural light indoors. This may lead you to a stunning compliment for the photo style you are aiming to achieve.
Mixing or mimicking natural light is possible using the right camera settings and equipment.
Photo courtesy 500px.com via Dmitry Ageev
Since natural light varies on its own, photographers are already enabled to experiment with creative use of natural light. You can also take your creative experiments a step further by deliberately manipulating natural light on your own, instead of waiting for the light to change. By experimenting in different conditions, you may find the perfect light set up to compliment your photo style.
Mixing light sources and shadow can create interesting effects.
Photo courtesy kroxphotography.com
Finally, if you shoot indoors frequently, it might be worthwhile to invest in a continuous lighting source meant for use in photography. Continuous photographic lighting is easier to work with than high end flash equipment and allows stress-free experimentation with your photo style.