Au Naturel

With a return to British summer time alongside colour and warmth brightening up the landscape, I've had a busy few days - and that doesn't include the uprooting elements of moving house, which I've also just undertaken. For many of my photography jobs, a pair of lights are normally the first thing I set up, indoor or outdoor. Recently however, natural lighting conditions have been extremely favourable, changing the way I set up for a shoot and allowing me to concentrate solely on my subject(s).

The Moore Family at their farm near Slaggyford, Northumberland. Shot for the NFU.

TV presenter Steph McGovern officially opens Middlesbrough College's TTE centre.

Photographers tend to be a very particular bunch when it comes to shooting conditions, but there are good reasons for this. Too little light and it's necessary to introduce synthetic lumination. Too much natural light and unattractive shadows appear, which again, can only be compensated for by means of a flash or speedlight.

87 year old Gerry Scott who won the first televised Grand National in 1960. Shot for The Daily Mirror.

A performance of All Change at 11Arches, Bishop Auckland - part of the D&SR200 celebrations.

My return to this more natural, less equipment approach has been very welcome. That said, going forward I don't imagine it will reduce the number of bags I feel obliged to cart around on nearly every job I do.

@NFUtweets @DailyMirror @11Arches @StephLunch #photography #naturallight #portraitphotography