Natural light or flash photographer?

Natural light is the sun or fire. I don't see either used here.

Edit: I forgot lightning and fireflies.

Gatorboy wrote in post #15915458
Natural light is the sun or fire. I don't see either used here.

I'm sitting in class and bored as I am I decided to Google, "what is natural light?"

The first response I got:

That said, I agree. I see no natural light in either of the pictures. I do flash and ambient lights, though.

I am a natural light photographer who believes that my camera can see and shoot in the dark.

Seriously, the only natural light you get is shooting somewhere where the sun light is the key light. Anything or anywhere else, you are either using ambient lighting or artificial lighting.

Oh, I am balanced light photographer...

In the realm of natural lighting, I would throw into the mix anything that you do not supplement, or add. So, that includes ambient and/or any light source that is just there... naturally. Whether its man made or not, doesn't matter.

In regards to the question, the first photo is naturally lit, by the sun through a skylight in the church. The second is bounce flash.

I'm an available light photographer. My flashes are always available.

Trent Gillespie wrote in post #15915434
I often get asked, by a new or veteran photographer, what type of photographer I am... natural light or flash? For some reason, this question drives me crazy.

Oh. instead of natural light you mean available light!

It's not a good question, since it implies that every photographic situation demands a strict either-or-decision. There are many many situations where both available light and flash are useful at the same time. This car show interior image used on board camera flash as accent illumination where the sun angle left the interior too dark to show details.

What if you turn on a lamp or open a curtain in the room for the specific reason of taking a photo? While not a flash, you have still added/modified the available light for the purpose of a photo......that would be no different than using a flash IMO. A flash is nothing more than another source of light that we can use at our disposal.

Wayyyyyyy off topic, but is that an Avanti?

KirkS518 wrote in post #15916323
Wayyyyyyy off topic, but is that an Avanti?

Looks like a Citroen of some kind.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15915568
I'm an available light photographer. My flashes are always available.

This !

I will use whatever lighting is available to get the shot (in the past I have used car headlights, a small (but bright) handheld flashlight, a mil spec searchlight, halogen worklights, small flashes, big flashes, and whatever other light is around)

gonzogolf wrote in post #15915568
I'm an available light photographer. My flashes are always available.

count me in also as an "available light" guy

Count me in as a "whatever light works for the shot" guy.

I will use flash, headlights, standard lamp, fluorescent etc if it will get the shot I want.

I think at some point most photogs are one or the other and eventually become both. As outlined by Jeffrey...

JeffreyG wrote in post #15537279
I think it's kind of a typical journey, at least for people that can afford it.

1) Get dSLR, kit lens.
2) Frustrated with onboard flash, lousy indoor pictures.
3) Get a fast prime. Amazed.
4) The lost years - all shallow DOF all the time. Talk about 'bokeh' a lot.
5) Sell all zooms. Talk about being an 'all primes' shooter like this is the same as 'have huge manhood'.
6) Grandma says "Nice picture, shame all of Suzie isn't in focus." Shake head at crazy old lady. Later realize old lady has a good point.
7) Realize that not all available light is pretty light. Get Speedlight. Amazed by bouncing light.
8) Read strobist blog. Sell all fast primes. Travel everywhere with two lightstands and remotes.
9) Get sick of lugging lighting gear everywhere. Rethink everything.
10) Realize that good available light is fine, and the ability to make good light is important too. Acquire balanced kit of zooms and primes that match interests. Shoot with available light sometimes, shoot with flash sometimes.