8 Natural Lighting Tips From National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes

Bob Holmes shares his years of experience as a National Geographic and travel photographer, with tips to help you make the most of natural lighting. These are tips that can be used for any genre of photography to help you advance your photography!

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[juanvillela]

We need more of these natural light photographer talks!!!

[precioustraveler]

I love listening to people who are so knowledgeable about their craft. 😌

[ethannarrow]

So helpful as a new photographer!! “Always expose for the highlights, and let the shadows take care of themselves” I’ll remember that

[siddharthbajpai]

Wow, this reminded me why I loved photography and why it's so tedious working for clients using all that equipment...I love natural lighting.

[IntrovertRockstar]

This was one of the best videos I’ve seen on photography

[sbhopper]

So nice to hear a pro say that on digital cameras, with all the settings, it's so important to double check ISO, WB, etc.

[jaminparker]

Experience and wisdom. Love this, thank you!

[rowliv]

I wish there was more content like this on YouTube.

[caravanlifenz]

I admire a pro who is humble enough to admit to incompetence now and again. Plenty of people would never own up to the mistake of shooting all of those people at really high ISO.

[pandoraefretum]

words of wisdom all photographers should not miss.. thanks

[ConsumerFanatics]

I’m guilty of all the things Bob says are issues. I love this guy, I learn something new every time I listen to him.

[richardwestwood]

Agreed about shooting in midday Sun, regardless of whether we are travelling or not time is a luxury . I'd sooner spend a hour or two trying to fing good composition and lighting in midday sun than pass on taking a picture because of difficult circumstances. I'm new to photography but even the most seasoned pros all agree that they are always learning something new .

[catseyes]

Love this, totally resonate with Bob's way of seeing and shooting. Thanks Bob!

[StrangelyIronic]

It's a bit backwards compared to film where a lot of film stocks did well with highlights but shadows crushed easily so I would expose for the darker areas I wanted with the zone system in mind.

One thing I wish my Fuji's had is highlight priority for metering. I use a X-E3 and X-T3 along with a 50R. I generally just spot meter highlights mixed with blinkies. From experience and adapting/using the zone system I find important highlights, meter to preserve and then leave shadows and hard blown lights (mirror light reflections, things that naturally are blown out) alone. Not always, but usually.

[TawaraboshiGenba]

Most photographers: It's very hard to shoot in natural light. Let's use strobes to make shooting portraits easier.
Bob Holmes: I only shoot in natural light. Strobes are too complicated.


Seriously, this guy is the Chuck Norris of photography.

[shy-guy]

Excellent explanations and wonderful photos. I am curious whether Bob uses auto white balance and auto iso. Thanks

[TaipeiGeek]

Great tips. I am enjoying your channel a lot today. Thank you for the effort.

[sbhopper]

He talks about exposing for highlights and letting the shadows take care of themselves. Does he then say "as we did with film"? I thought it was the opposite with film. Expose for the shadows, develop/process the highlights.

[rb]

natural lights especially semi-dark sky before rain is my favorite, everything has the same color-coding, great moments for black and white photos. that how I've won most of my awards

[GeoffreyEduard]

is this a repost? I have the idea that I've seen this in the past