Window light

[TraceyHill3]

I'm trying to learn more about shooting with available light inside. How did I do in this photo? Should I brighten or darken any areas? Should I have put my reflector on her other side?




Exif:

Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/1.8
Focal Length 35 mm
Focal Length 35.6 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[Rentham]

There is too much of an exposure difference between the window side of her face and the other side. The light is also getting dappled from the blinds. A reflector would have helped a bit. But traditionally window light has a soft, wrapping quality. Try drawing up the shades completely, and moving her just behind the window. Read some lighting tutorials that deal with "feathering" the light, but you'll be moving your subject in this case instead of the light source. That should even things out a bit.

If you want a more dramatic look, you can put your subject against a dark background and use the window light as rim. Again, though, it's important to move the subject out from the direct light. These two shots where taken a few minutes apart, next to the same window. The only thing that changed was the position of the subject and some camera settings: