The Light Was Already There
Natural light rewards patience more than gear.
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine
Natural light has a reputation for being simple.
It’s everywhere.
It’s free.
Anyone can use it.
Yet some photographers consistently create stronger images than others using the exact same sun, sky, and conditions.
That’s what made this week’s assignment interesting.
It wasn’t a test of equipment.
It was a test of observation.
For this week’s assignment, members were asked to create a photograph using natural light within their niche.
Window light.
Open shade.
Golden hour.
Overcast skies.
Whatever the source, daylight needed to be the primary illumination shaping the image.
The challenge wasn’t adding light.
It was working with what was already there.
Natural light rewards observation before it rewards technique.
Why This Matters
Strong photographers don’t just react to light.
They anticipate it.
They know when to wait for it, when to move into it, and when to build an image around it.
Assignments like this develop visual awareness, patience, and timing.
These skills strengthen every genre of photography, regardless of what gear you’re using.
Assignment Brief
At the end of each review session, Carty delivers a focused brief outlining exactly what members must create for the following week.
For Week #23, photographers were challenged to create a single image using natural light within their niche while maintaining professional standards of composition, atmosphere, and visual impact.
Before We Get to the Winners...
The strongest submissions this week weren’t necessarily the most dramatic.
They were the most intentional.
The selected images showed an understanding of how light can shape mood, direct attention, and strengthen a photograph without drawing attention to itself.
Zandon De Waal
What first caught your attention about the natural light in this scene?
It captured a moment that was initially in a chaotic state with high emotions.
How did the available light influence your decisions around composition, timing, or subject placement?
It has definitely improved my choice of seeing fleeting moments.
What challenges did working with natural light present, and how did you overcome them?
Framing.
Was there a particular quality of light (direction, softness, contrast, colour, etc.) that helped define the final image?
No, but I wish I framed it a little better.
What do you think the light contributes to this image beyond simple illumination?
Yes, Peter Lindbergh.
Social Media Handles:
Website: zandondewaal.com
Instagram: zandon_de_waal
Sean Thomas
What first caught your attention about the natural light in this scene?
The warm early morning sunlight immediately caught my attention.
It added atmosphere and naturally brought the scene to life.
How did the available light influence your decisions around composition, timing, or subject placement?
The light dictated both the timing and composition.
I positioned myself to use the sunlight and lens flare while keeping the people, location, and vehicle connected within the frame.
What challenges did working with natural light present, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was balancing the bright sunlight with the darker building facade.
Careful exposure allowed me to maintain detail while preserving the mood of the scene.
Was there a particular quality of light (direction, softness, contrast, colour, etc.) that helped define the final image?
The warm directional light helped define the image.
It created depth, atmosphere, and a strong sense of place.
What do you think the light contributes to this image beyond simple illumination?
The light contributes to the feeling of the image as much as the visibility.
It adds warmth, energy, and reinforces the sense of community within the scene.
Social Media Handles:
Website: www.autoluximagery.com
Instagram: autoluximagery
Francis Jeffery
What first caught your attention about the natural light in this scene?
I loved how it was helping reveal the brown sand in the water making the water look like the colour of the soda.
How did the available light influence your decisions around composition, timing, or subject placement?
I had to make sue the bottle was placed so that the natural light was making the text readable and legible on the bottle.
I also had this huge issue where waves kept knocking my bottles over and carrying them out into the lake and I kept having to abandon my photography equipment and run into the lake and grab them and pull them back.
One bottle I lost sight of and gave up on and then 2 hours later I took a break and looked for a different perspective to shoot from which led to me finding it rolling around with the waves in the lake and was still unopened, so I went out into the lake and grabbed it and then went back to my photography.
What challenges did working with natural light present, and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was driving between South Bend Indiana and Washington Park Beach in Michigan City Indiana and spending several hours there on back to back days to get this shoot done.
I use to shoot landscapes and editorial scenes before my 1st time on The Carty Method and so I know how to work with only natural light (especially since I use to be a fan of Peter McKinnon).
Was there a particular quality of light (direction, softness, contrast, colour, etc.) that helped define the final image?
The hardness of it.
What do you think the light contributes to this image beyond simple illumination?
Highlighting the features of the product and illuminating the muddy water under the lake surface which made the colour of the lake be the same as the soda.
Also if it weren’t for the light the moving bubbles which make the whole lakefront look like carbonation wouldn’t be as noticeable and make it look more like chocolate ice cream instead of soda.
Social Media Handles:
Website: 500px.com/photogenicconnections
Instagram: francisjefferythebest
Instagram: scenery_michiana_portraits
Sonny Warren
What first caught your attention about the natural light in this scene?
This is a room that I work in often and there is a beautiful big circular window that gets really nice soft light.
How did the available light influence your decisions around composition, timing, or subject placement?
I had to shoot the subject mid to late morning for best lighting conditions.
I placed the fabric flats in such a way that they would create depth with the shadows from the layering.
What challenges did working with natural light present, and how did you overcome them?
Timing is the biggest challenge and you have to deal with that challenge with planning plus opportunism.
Was there a particular quality of light (direction, softness, contrast, colour, etc.) that helped define the final image?
I was trying to really get the feel of a soft studio type lighting that creates shape and intimacy.
What do you think the light contributes to this image beyond simple illumination?
Natural light can give a real even shape and warmth that I tried to lean into.
It accentuates the natural materials in the fabrics textures
Social Media Handles:
Website: sonnywarrenphoto.com
Instagram: sonnywarrenphoto
Khaligraphy
Social Media Handles:
Website: khaligraphy.art
Instagram: khaligraphy
Amund
Social Media Handles:
Website: amundphoto.com
Instagram: amundphoto
Jim Sinicki
Social Media Handles:
Website: charliejamesphoto.com
Instagram: charlie_james_photo
Substack: Charlie James Photo
Malik Brand
What first caught your attention about the natural light in this scene?
It was the Harsh light and shadow is what stood out it when i was looking for a open shade by the car wash we were shooting at.
How did the available light influence your decisions around composition, timing, or subject placement?
I was focused on making sure that the clothing was the focus but also the brand wanted “grungy” so i was trying create that vibe without keeping it dark.
What challenges did working with natural light present, and how did you overcome them?
The main issue was time of day it was around 4 pm on a bright sunny day I knew I needed a spot with some shade to cut down on that I said to myself “Carty would say a real pro can shoot no matter the time of day” so I figured it out.
Was there a particular quality of light (direction, softness, contrast, colour, etc.) that helped define the final image?
It was transition between the hard light and the shadows and the Rembrandt lighting on her cheek it all came together the way i wanted it to.
What do you think the light contributes to this image beyond simple illumination?
It highlights the shirt and makes the brand the hero but still shows the person wearing it as well.
Social Media Handles:
Website: malikbrandphotography.com
Instagram: Malik.a.brand
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Watch the replay of these photo submissions below.