The concepts and rationale for light placement are no different outdoors than indoors. To match the range of the scene to the sensor and put flattering light on a face requires putting the back of the subject to the sun, the face in the ambient fill from the sky. Boosting the fill from the sky with one flash (its too dark otherwise) then creating the highlight pattern over the combined sky+flash fill with a second \"key\" light. So you wind up with a two light key over even fill just and indoors. The difference is the sun is your hair and backlight and do most of the work for the fill and key lights.
The wonderfully soft light of the northern sky is a huge asset outdoors if one understands how to utilize it to full advantage. Like kayaking its easier to paddle downstream with the flow of the \"shady\" side of ambient light than trying to paddle against the current and battle direct sun with flash.
I recently put together a tutorial which explains the cause and effect concepts of lighting : LINK to PDF
Chuck
Oct 30, 2009 at 04:06 PM
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