The essence of “Natural”

I have done a lot of thinking lately about what makes an image seem “Natural”.

I will keep coming back to this theme from time to time. I haven’t defined all of the “Rules of Natural Photography” but I have a good start. I will share them now and expand upon them further as we go along.

What are the visual cues that a picture is “Natural”:
     • Complex backgrounds
     • Light is often coming from unusual directions
           Slightly too low or too high
     • One main light source
     • Complex ambient lighting
     • Complex catch lights in eyes
     • Tiny catch lights in eyes
     • Broad light source creating hair light (the sky)
     • Light source is visible (window)
     • Apparent depth creates light falloff
     • Identifiable background
     • Background dark on bottom, light on top
     • Lighting Harmony
           Continuity of lighting direction and intensity (especially hard lighting)
     • Lighting of background compliments subject lighting (direction, character)
     • Atmospheric lighting
     • Messiness
           Blown out highlights
           Windblown hair
           Clutter
           Texture
           Environment

The “tells” of “artificial” photography
     • Light character and fall off that scream “light box!” or “Umbrella!”
     • Painted backdrops
     • Props of any kind
     • Black turtlenecks
     • White turtlenecks
     • Perfect hair
     • Hair lights (rim light, kicker)
     • Light coming from too many directions
     • Light that is either too even or too direct