Why Not Create the Light We Dream Of

A look at shaping light with Profoto - shot on SONY A1

Light has always been the language of photography.

Before cameras, before lenses, before editing - there is light. It is the element that shapes emotion, defines form, and ultimately determines how a photograph feels.

For many years I worked almost entirely with natural light. I chased it across landscapes and cities, waiting for those moments when the light becomes soft, directional, and poetic.

But over time I began asking myself a simple question:

Why only wait for beautiful light… when we can create the light we dream of?

This idea became the foundation for a live demonstration I created for Way Up North, exploring how natural light and artificial light can work together rather than compete.

 

Light is Emotion

Natural light is often where everything begins.

During this shoot the scene was set beside a quiet lake surrounded by autumn forest. The sky was soft and overcast, creating a natural diffusion that wrapped gently around the subject.

The veil catches this light beautifully, scattering it and creating an almost ethereal atmosphere because of the light places behind her. If we haden't added light this image would have been flat and dull. 

here is the setup with the A2 from Profoto on the rock behind her. 

A single Profoto light was positioned on the rock behind her. By keeping the light soft and directional, it blends seamlessly into the existing environment.

Why I Started Creating My Own Light

Rather than overpowering a scene, my goal when introducing flash is always subtlety. Elias my son is in the boat behind the model with a Profoto B20 handheld as you can see. 

The intention is not to make the image look “lit”.

Instead, it is about shaping the light that is already there.

In this image, a Profoto light was introduced to create gentle separation between the subject and the landscape. The glow behind the model adds dimension, allowing her to stand out against the soft tones of the lake. 

I often ask myself - Where would the sun naturally fall in this scene?

By placing the artificial light in that same direction, the image maintains a natural feeling while gaining additional dimension.

Even a single light can completely transform how a photograph feels.

When artificial light is used carefully, it becomes almost invisible.

The viewer simply feels that the image has more depth and presence.

 

Shaping the Scene With Multiple Lights

As the shoot progressed, additional lighting was introduced to create more depth. Elias is still in the boat with the B20 and On land my assistant is holding the A2 with the little diffuser on it. Simple and fast setup. 

One light acted as the main source, shaping the face and body of the subject. Another provided subtle separation from the background.

The balance between these lights is extremely important.

Too much flash and the scene becomes artificial.
Too little and the effect disappears entirely.

The art lies in finding the quiet space between the two...

Photography often looks effortless in the final image.

But behind that simplicity is a thoughtful collaboration between creativity and technique.

Lighting allows us to bring studio-level control into the natural world.

And that opens incredible creative possibilities when playing with lights. 

The Floating Scene

The final concept from this shoot explored something more surreal.. the next morning we got up early to shoot at sunrise - differetn light. This time we used the Profoto a10

We were in the boat shooting the model Elise on the floating bed so lots of movement and strong sunrise made the light easier to fill in rather than overpower. 

A floating bed on the water, surrounded by fabric and morning light.

Here the sun became a natural backlight while flash was used to illuminate the subject’s face and maintain detail in the shadows.

This combination creates a delicate balance between natural atmosphere and controlled light.

The result is an image that feels both calm and cinematic — as if the subject is suspended somewhere between dream and reality.

Creating the Light We Imagine

Over time I have come to see lighting not simply as a technical tool, but as a creative one.

Just like composition or colour, light allows us to shape emotion inside a photograph.

Sometimes the most beautiful choice is to rely entirely on natural light.

But when the scene asks for something more… we have the ability to build it.

To shape it.

To design it.

And that is when photography moves beyond observation and becomes something else entirely.

A form of creation.

Because sometimes the most beautiful images are not the ones we wait for.

They are the ones we choose to create.

Cameras & Lenses Used

For this shoot I worked with the Sony A1, paired with the Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM lens.

The Sony A1 has become one of my favourite cameras for portrait and editorial work. Its dynamic range allows me to retain beautiful detail in highlights and shadows, which is particularly important when balancing natural light with artificial light.

When working outdoors with flash, the ability to capture subtle tonal transitions — especially in skin tones and soft fabrics — becomes incredibly valuable.

The 50mm f/1.2 GM is a lens I return to often. It offers a natural perspective that feels intimate without distortion, and the wide aperture allows for beautiful separation between subject and background.

For this shoot it helped maintain a delicate softness while still preserving the clarity needed when working with directional light.

The combination of the Sony A1 and the 50mm f/1.2 creates a balance of precision and atmosphere that I find ideal for portrait storytelling.

Sony cameras A1 
Profoto lighting & Light shaping tools

Thanks to Elise Bauman for MUA and modeling - to Karoliina Paasonen for video & Nicole Edenbo for modeling. 

See the backstage video on my Youtube