There's No Substitute For Good Light in Photography

There's no substitute for good light.

Whether it's natural, or artificial light. You need to know when to use artificial light, or whether to go with the available light around you. Strobes can be great, but why use them if you have beautiful golden sunlight? You need to know the difference between when to come in and light something separately or whether to use the great light around you.

I always tell my photography assistants that it's okay to understand the technicalities in photography, but you need to be able to feel the light. You need to feel it in your heart and to see it with your eyes. Learn to look more at the light around you. Sometimes just returning to a site may yield a better lighting situation. Look at how the light touches a subject, and the effects that it has on the subject.

As much as possible try to re-visit a site. Something as simple as a few hours may improve the subject dramatically. Also, if there's been a storm, recognize as the light changes. What do the clouds look like? Sometimes a storm can knock down the haze and reveal crisp, golden light.

Spend more time looking at the light around you. Proper Lighting is one of the secrets to great photography.