ABSTRACT
The main light source for portraits outside the studio is the sun, but how this appears and how it can be used effectively depends on the time of day and the weather conditions. This chapter covers lighting conditions outside the controlled environment of the studio, including indoor, outdoor, ambient or artificial lighting. The main light source for portraits outside the studio is the sun, but how this appears and how it can be used effectively depends on the time of day and the weather conditions. Just as a softbox spreads light from an electronic flash and makes it softer, so cloud cover does the same for sunlight. Unlike the landscape photographer, who generally dreads the descent of clouds, the portrait photographer is grateful for outside cloud cover as it diffuses the light and makes the subject less likely to squint.
