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The Art of Available Light by Judy Host [Review]

Here at DPS, we often talk about wireless lighting, soft-boxes, strobes and the myriad of aspects to artificial lighting. As great as controlled lighting is, we often neglect the wonderful (and affordable) world of natural lighting. Problem is, once you’ve been hooked on the methodology of a “Strobist”, it’s often hard to let the light ride as the world gives it to you. To help combat this tendency, I decided to pick up an instructional DVD on using available light. Entitled The Art of Available Light, photographer Judy Host presents this DVD as a way to shoot sans any lighting equipment.

The DVD is divided into eight chapters focused primarily on lighting techniques used for portrait sessions. Her subjects of choice are babies, children and families so if that is also your style you may find this especially helpful. Her photo shoots alternate between indoor window lit settings to various outdoor conditions. In the end, Host is very resourceful when it comes to finding and using light that creates the desired emotion in her photos.

Not only does she layout the technique she uses to find and utilize natural light, she also provides some very good tips in dealing with children, and larger groups along the way. Host shows the viewer how to create an environment that is comfortable and natural for the subject. Without all the umbrellas and flashes of a typical studio setup, it is easier for the subject to relax, which adds a natural feel to your already natural light. Judy Host continues this theme with props to envelop her subjects with nature and flowing fabrics that create a soft tranquil setting.

For those with a camera, but limited gear this DVD will provide motivation and some very basic information on lighting, and give you an inside look at a typical photo shoot. I would recommend it primarily for beginners with limited exposure to the art of photography. For those on a more advanced level, they would be best served by looking into other more advanced titles as I found the lighting tips to be rather general and not very technical. Still, it’s nice to have information for all levels and I am impressed with the quality information provided for this beginner level.

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