Flash & Ambient Lighting Feat. Eliza Butterworth

Photography is an art form that requires a great deal of skill and creativity. 

Choosing a good photo studio is essential when looking to shoot any type of content using studio lighting, or even ambient lighting within a daylight studio.

Simulacra Studio, Sydenham, London SE26 has two photo studios and a fabulous lounge which also doubles as a third shooting space - all with fantastic ambient lighting and inclusive flash lighting if required.

One of the most important aspects of photography is learning how to use light effectively.

When it comes to lighting, there are two main types: ambient lighting and flash lighting. Ambient lighting is the natural light that is already present in a scene, while flash lighting is an artificial light source that can be used to supplement or enhance the ambient light. Learning how to mix these two types of lighting can help you create stunning images with dramatic effects. In this blog post, we will explore how to mix flash with ambient lighting, featuring tips from professional photographer Eliza Butterworth.

What Is Ambient Lighting?

Ambient lighting refers to the natural light that is already present in a scene. This type of light can come from sources such as the sun, moon, stars, or even artificial sources like streetlights or lamps. Ambient light provides a soft and even illumination across a scene and can be used as the primary source of illumination for your photographs.

Simulacra Studio’s three shooting spaces all have fantastic natural daylight ie ambient lighting, but these can also be blacked out if required.

What Is Flash Lighting?
Flash lighting is an artificial light source that can be used to supplement or enhance the existing ambient light in a scene. Flash lights come in many shapes and sizes and can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are typically more powerful than ambient lights and provide a more directional illumination which allows you to control where your subject is lit from.

Speak to the studio team about what flash lighting you can have inclusive of your booking at Simulacra Studio. 

How To Mix Flash With Ambient Lighting

Mixing flash with ambient lighting can help you create stunning images with dramatic effects. Here are some tips from professional photographer Eliza Butterworth on how to mix these two types of lights effectively:

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1) Use Your Ambient Light as Your Primary Source: When mixing flash with ambient lighting, it’s important to use your ambient light as your primary source of illumination for your photograph. This will ensure that your subject looks natural and not overly lit by the flash light.

2) Balance Your Lights: When mixing flash with ambient lighting, it’s important to balance the intensity of each type of light so they work together harmoniously in creating your desired effect. You want your subject to look naturally lit without any harsh shadows or overly bright highlights caused by either type of light being too strong or too weak compared to one another.

3) Experiment With Different Angles: Experimenting with different angles when mixing flash with ambient lighting can help you create unique effects in your photographs such as silhouettes or rim-lighting around your subject’s edges which adds depth and dimensionality to your image.

4) Use Reflectors To Bounce Light: Using reflectors such as white cards or silver umbrellas when mixing flash with ambient lighting can help you bounce more light onto your subject which helps fill in any shadows caused by either type of light being too strong or too weak compared to one another. This helps create an even balance between both types of lights in order for them both work together harmoniously in creating your desired effect for each photograph you take!

Mixing flash with ambient lighting can help you create stunning images with dramatic effects if done correctly! By following Eliza Butterworth’s tips on how to mix these two types of lights effectively, you will be able to take beautiful photos that capture all the details within each scene perfectly!

Shoot at Simulacra Studio’s ambient and daylight studios in Sydenham, London SE26 using the tips featured in this article.