It is often written or posted as Natural / Available light VS Flash like they are two things at constant war with each other.

I do not get it. It’s almost as bad and boring as Canon V Nikon.

To say that one is better than the other or debate which is better is silly and a waste of time.  They both have a place and in my opinion it’s a good idea to know how to use both.

People in Facebook groups go at it discussing which is best or argue that their arch enemy don’t know what they are doing.  Sigh.

Think that flash is the bee’s knees and think you are not doing anything with available light when running flash .. wrong.

Think natural or available light is the only true way to shoot… wrong.  Try shooting that window light at 9pm at night.

As a photographer you should have both in your tool kit, why?

1. It gives options to both you and your clients.
2. Flash will give you a consistency any time of the day you won’t get with available light.
3. Available light can be beautiful on it’s own and also when combined with a flash exposure. 
4. They can be used together or as needed without the photography gods getting angry.

Guess who makes the call on the final image with paid work…. The client.  If they want natural light, they get it, if they want natural light on a studio set they get it. It’s our job to deliver.

Neither is better or worse they both have a place and can run together.

One thing I have noticed is that folk too often come into photography and jump straight on the flash bandwagon before they know what they are doing with a camera and before they have a good understanding of available light.  You need to know how to walk before you set off running.

In the first image of the fine gents from @dandymarketing I grabbed an image with available light only which was the window light, room lights and of course what was bounced back from the inside of the hotel. 

It’s a caught moment and not the worst light, but it was not delivered as a final image to brief even though I did send the file over.

The second image of Andy & Dan is a final lit image which combines the window light as a kicker and a flash exposure as the key light.

That exposure was F5.6, 1/200th, ISO 200.  The flash power was enough for F5.6 ISO 200 in a @pixapro 120cm Octa at the distance it was.

My decision on the exposure was for both the key light and the environment.  I could of overpowered the available light but then the background and environment goes darker increasing contrast in the shot making is feel more dramatic and not matching the feel of the clients brand.

The available light only shot is ok but it’s not clean or polished enough to deliver as a final and that available light was changing shot to shot. Using a flash gave me more control.

Let’s look at another shot.

A natural light head shot right?  Almost.

It is natural light in open shade on an overcast day with a little fill flash added. 

The natural light I great but the eyes can seem a little dark, especially if the light is all above.  It just adds a little life in the eyes with out having to go in to photoshop.  

The exposure was F4 ISO 125, 1/160th with the flash reading F4.

With out the flash chasing the available light the eyes go darker.

Let’s look at a couple of available light only images.  This next image was shot in China Town, Liverpool and is all natural light modified with a diffuser.

Karina is a singer/performer and often works on cruise ships.  A head shot was in order as we had portraits already shot.

The light was sun clipping through clouds so with out the diffuser it was a little hard.  All that was needed was a small 5in1 reflector held above Karina and we were good to go.

We got good light in the eyes and good direction of light.  Natural light for the win.

The exposure was F2.2 ISO 160, 1/500th

Let’s take a look at another one.

A head shot of Sarah, all natural light in open shade in Castlefield, Manchester. 

No reflector or diffuser just the light that is at the location.  Love it. It’s simple that’s for sure and less kit to carry so that’s a bonus but let’s remember that on a drab dull day this would not work and I would need to A find another location or make my own light.

They both have a place.

The image below was lit with flash but also included a background that was all available light.  If I had exposure for the back lit window light the view of Manchester outside would be pure white.

Flash working with available light.  #team

The fact that I used a white board that was on wheels to act as a fill source is another thing…lol 

Exposure F4 ISO 200, 1/100th

Flipping back to available light only again we have this head shot of model / MUA Ellie.  I love this end of day natural light it’s great.  The 5D II sensor loves it also.  

Exposure was F2.8 ISO 200, 1/400th

Back to flash.  This portrait of Ozzy was lit in the studio to simulate the late sun coming through window shutters and a colder light coming from a side room. 

It took a speedlite with a modifier, gel and gobo fitter and a 2nd light a studio strobe with a gridded strip box on. 

I have total control over the image and am not having to find a location that fits at the right time of day and hope for the right conditions.  Don’t get me wrong if I was at such a location and the available light was great, I would absolutely shoot it. 

The flash gives me options, control and I can recreate this for a client anywhere they need it.

What I am trying to say here is that both available light and flash are amazing.  Learn to use them both and spend less time in a Facebook Group or on a forum arguing the merits of each.

Thank you for reading.

Rick