Regina on location (Patreon)

I'm in the process of making a video guide for shooting nudes on location.

I generally never use light on location, partly because I like natural light and because it's just too cumbersome to drag along and set up when working without an assistant.

Which, of course, means I have to get good at using available light.

If you have seen my studio light guide, you know I prefer light with a clear direction and light that comes from some specific angles.

Since I can't control the angle of light, other than shoot at a different time of day, I need another means of control. 

And here are a couple of examples showing one of my favorite ways of controlling light and direction:

When placing the model up against a rock (or forest, wooden shack, or whatever), we effectively remove the light from that side and then have one-sided light. From there on, it's just a matter of directing the model to take up an angle where the light will look pleasing on her body.

Frequently when I'm in a location, I start looking for places where I can see the light will be directional, and then I figure out whether I can place a model there and at the same time have a good background.

Great background and bad lighting never make a great photograph. But great lighting is an excellent beginning.

The model here is Regina Piil