I prefer to shoot by the existing light.
Not so long ago, this would have read “by available light”, but the pedants in the photography world (they are legion, you wouldn’t believe it) have latched on to the phrase. According to them, if they have a four-head, radio-controlled studio flash system with them, then it’s “available”.
By existing light, I mean the light that exists in the scene, without adding anything.
It’s very hard to be inconspicuous when you shoot with a flash. At best, you draw attention to yourself. At worst, during a wedding ceremony for instance, you also draw attention away from the the thing you’re photographing. Either way, its obvious a photograph is being taken and it becomes intrusive. Imagine an orchestra conductor using a megaphone to direct a performance instead of a baton.
By not using flash, it is easier for me to blend into the environment. My presence goes unnoticed and people act naturally, which produces very true photographs of what they are doing. The best compliment I get to hear is when my wedding clients are asked why they didn’t hire a photographer.
That’s only half the story. There is also an aesthetic consideration. I love the way existing light looks.
Here’s a photograph I’m showing a lot at the moment for a variety of reasons. It also helps illustrate the point about the quality of existing light.
My daughter brushing her teeth. Houston, Texas. I loved the light and the way it made a commonplace daily event into something almost heroic. At the same time it is a very tender photograph. (c) Roger Overall 2009
I could have used flash to fill in all the dark areas, or even to light up the whole scene evenly.
It just wouldn’t have had the same feeling. Flash would have destroyed the atmosphere of the photograph.
Relying on existing light helps preserve some of the integrity of the scene as it was. That’s an important consideration for a documentary photographer.
