Understanding how to use ambient light and flash together can greatly improve your versatility. Natural lighting conditions are unpredictable, and knowing how to handle them can make or break your photography.
Coming to you from Jiggie Alejandrino, this insightful video explains how to balance ambient light with flash. Alejandrino shared his approach during a workshop at San Fernando La Union. Despite the cloudy weather that day, which obscured the sunset, he adjusted his technique to still achieve amazing results. Knowing how to modify your setup when conditions are not ideal can save the shoot and create beautiful and unique images.
The video emphasizes the importance of using existing ambient light creatively. Alejandrino demonstrates how to position a model to make the most of the sun as a hair light. Then he used one Profoto B10X Plus as main light. This combination allows for a balanced exposure where both natural and artificial light complement each other.
Alejandrino shows a live view of the camera, giving you a real-time look at his adjustment and thought process. This transparency helps you understand not only the how but also the why behind each decision. He also solves common problems such as model positioning and lighting adjustments. For example, he adjusts flash power to avoid overexposure and adjusts the model’s pose for optimal light direction. These small adjustments are the difference between an average photo and an excellent photo. Watch the video above for all the information about Alejandrino.
If you want to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out »Face lighting: Lighting for portraits and portraits With Peter Hurley!”
