Photography with available light

 So often I Post an image that I shot in available light (sunlight), and the comments come in "What kind of lighting are you using?" I think that in this "Strobist" driven age of photography many new photographers, forget to start from the origins of photography. I was not immune to this illness, But I am happy to say that I am well on my way to recovery. I am 33 years old, and I and a recovering Strobohalic. A stroboholic does not know when to use strobes, and when not to use strobes. It's not their fault though. There has been a continuing movement in the last few years to use portable lighting in the middle of the day, or even the golden hour. Why, because their is a consensuses that it is cool. People are convinced if they can overpower the sun with thousands of dollars in lighting gear they will have a good image. I have been to the top of the mountain. I have overpowered the sun. And you know what? It didn't make a better image unless I used the strobe for a reason other then to fight the ambient. I do use strobes outdoors when necessary. I have a few techniques for mixing available light with strobe lighting. These days I think more about the mood and composition of the image first. 
 I live in Tucson Arizona. We have a lot of natural light. Some of my friends say the light here is no good for photography. I do not believe them. You have to work with what you are given. I shot the two image above between the hours of 4 and 5:30 pm in January. The light was great. Since I shoot in Raw I can adjust color and contrast infinitely after the shoot. In fact these days I preview my images in Black and white on my Camera so all I see in tone. All I want is the Grey scale for outdoor shoots.

So what is the best way to get Great shots with available light?

Shoot in  manual mode only.
 You have to control your camera, or it will control you. without control over your Depth of field and the motion freezing shutter speed. You can not accurately paint the image in your head. Say you want to shoot an image with a soft background with a slight  motion blur to the subject at 1:00pm. It can be done. Set you camera for your best lowest Fstop (aperture) ,set your shutter speed under 1/60, set the lowest ISO of course. Now shoot the set in a shaded area, or use a Neutral density filter/polarize, Or two stacked polarizers to dial in the exposure.

Use the environment don't fight it.
 Play with the shaded areas look at the face of your subject, and  watch out for a heavy mix of shadows and highlights from overhead objects. Move the subject around till they land the right lighting for your shot. use reflectors if they permit. use the side of buildings as reflectors. 

Pick the right time of day for the right mood of the shot.
You can shoot all day, but the light will change and you will have to change with it. You must keep varying your exposure, And watching the position of the sun and how it falls on the subject. Again find and area with shade and move the subject to the edge of the shade and see how the light fall changes on the subject. Moving them one inch can make a big difference. this is like moving a Softbox in and out. The contrast will change on the face and body. For high contrast fashion images I shoot between 3:00 and 5:00 pm or 9to10am. Of course around fie you have near perfect soft warm light.

So before you buy a lot of gear, Set your camera on manual and go play with what is already free.