Natural Light & Low Light Mood

I LOVE NATURAL LIGHT.

Let's set the record straight.

I only use artificial light if it is one of two things:

1. A last resort 

2. Going for a specific look that requires it

To me natural light creates one thing

Mood

And really that and emotion are what I really try to create in my images.

I don't want people to just look at my images and think "Oh that's a nice picture"

I want them to feel something.

I want them to smell the wet fall leaves, or the open grassy field.

I want them to hear the wind as it rushes past their ears, or the sweet snoring baby.

I want my images to evoke emotion, and the way I can do that is to use what natural light has to offer.

Lately I have been trying my hand at low light imaging in natural light.

I've always loved the way my favorite photographers are able to take advantage of a low light situation and make their photographs a beautiful moment.

This afternoon when both kids were asleep (I KNOW RIGHT!?), I went upstairs and everything was quiet.

Ahhhh

I went to check on my sweet daughter, and the door was just cracked slightly.

I saw her mouth open because her binky had fallen out.

Her chubby little wrists lie on either side of her tiny little body.

I could hear her sweet little baby breaths go in and out, and I knew I had to grab my camera.

I decided this would be a great opportunity to test out some low light photography techniques. 

I took 2 sets of images.

The first was at a higher ISO making up for the lack of light

I still got the look I wanted, but I wasn't sure about the mood

so I took my second set of images where I lowered the ISO significantly

and got this look...

Just a much softer look.

Both have pros and cons, but it's fun to only rely on the light you're given.