Natural light and a pastel color contest

Last week, Clickin'Moms plugged a photo contest by Detra Perrotti of The Light Workshop. Detra is giving away one free seat in her workshop to the winner of her "Pastel Colors" portrait contest. Just by looking at the photos she used as an example on her blog, I know for sure I don't have a shot at winning that seat but that didn't stop me from trying anyway.

I love natural light. I have purposely kept my flash turned off for about 4 years. If it is too dark to take a photo without the flash, I generally don't bother taking the photo. I know that makes me sound snobby about using a flash, but really the trouble is I don't know how to use a flash the right way. In my hands, flash photography looks harsh and unflattering and I just don't care to capture harsh unflattering memories.

Someday maybe I'll learn how to bounce a flash and use it the right way, but until then I rely solely on natural light whenever possible. The photo above was taken in my favorite spot in our house, right next to a pair of corner windows in our living room. I have just a tiny patch of blank wall big enough to set Little Pea for a picture but it won't be too much longer before she's too big for this spot. Just to her left is the television power outlets and cords and to her right is a white windowsill. She has to be sitting "just so" to avoid getting those items in the photo. But the light I can capture there is worth the tricky effort.

The trouble I'm having right now is that although I've completely mastered how to work photos in this spot in my living room, send me outside where all the real natural light is coming from and I'm completely lost! Spring is here and summer is right behind. I want to be outside with my peanuts in the coming months and I have lots of learning to do before I can handle all that the sun and shade are going to throw at me and my camera.

So if you're the crossing fingers kind, I wouldn't mind an extra pair crossed for me and that workshop seat.