• The photographer adjusts himself to the light, not the light to him.photographer sihouette image by gajatz from Fotolia.com
  
  Available lighting technique, also known as minimalist lighting, is simply working with the light available despite the conditions. In Greek, the word "photography" means "writing with light," thus photography is the art of manipulating light in order to create an image. Creative photographers work with what they have, focusing primarily on the most natural of lighting sources, the sun.
  
  

Outside

• The easiest way to utilize as much available lighting as possible is simply to go outside. Even in low light or overcast conditions, the outdoors provide the fullest "surround" lighting. If possible, screens and bouncing boards can be set up to soften the light when shooting in harsh sunlight. Placing a refracting screen between the subject and sun to diffuse the light will prevent sun glare,. A screen can be a white fabric pulled across a frame or parchment paper held up by an assistant. To counterbalance overall harshness caused by the sun, a flash, either built in or attached, is used to fill shadows.
  
  

Windows

• If going outside is not an option, the second best location is next to or in a room with a large window. Depending on the desired lighting effect, indoor indirect natural lighting can be a preferred method. When photographing indoors with natural light, it's best to shoot in a large open room next to the largest window. If the light does not come directly through the window, then it is already diffused and soft. If direct harsh sun beams come through the window, the window can be covered with a large, sheer, white sheet or drapes, or pieces of parchment paper can be taped to the window to diffuse the light.
  
  

Walls

• Photographing inside a room with white walls helps to refract the available light, thus making the available light appear to be more than it is. A white-walled room appears brighter than a room with dark walls because the light continually bounces off one wall to another, increasing the available light.
  
  

Bouncing Screens

• Instead of, or along with, white walls, setting up white reflecting bouncing screens helps to increase the amount of light directed on the subject being photographed. Any white screen, white piece of cardboard or white foam board propped up next to the setup helps to create even, soft lighting. Using a metallic reflecting screen increases the light projected on an object even more than a white board. If a metallic bouncing screen isn't available, one can be created by crumbling large pieces of foil then stretching them across a large piece of cardboard.
  
  

Tripods

• In low available light situations, tripods are a photographer's best friend. They allow the photographer to shoot at a lower shutter speed, which allows more light to enter the camera. When a tripod isn't used, low shutter speeds tend to cause blur. A tripod steadies the camera, allowing for less movement during a long exposure.
  
  

Camera Settings

• Using available lighting requires knowing your camera well. Proper camera settings are crucial for getting the most out of light. In low-light situations, a large aperture is ideal because it allows for a faster shutter speed. Setting the white balance on the camera is also important for overcast situations because it tends to cast cold blue tones. Adjusting the camera's white balance corrects color distortion.