Light and Shadows in the City: A Photoshoot with Gale Scott
Gale Scott, model and musician, bathed in golden sunlight and shadow.
Sometimes, the best connections happen when you least expect them. I met Gale while photographing a client event in Midtown Manhattan—she was DJing a Pride Party for Q Mixers (link to page). Her energy and style immediately caught my attention, so we decided to meet up later to take some portraits around the city. The goal was to use nothing but natural light, letting the urban environment shape the mood and feel of the shoot.
Chasing the Perfect Light
Timing is everything when working with natural light. For this shoot, I planned to capture Gale during the late afternoon, when the light softens and creates dramatic shadows in the cityscape. This golden hour glow, combined with the natural textures and lines of the urban environment, offered a dynamic backdrop for her portraits.
The challenge was to embrace what was available—no artificial lighting, no reflectors. I wanted the light and shadows to work together organically, creating a mood that felt genuine and spontaneous.
Testing Gear: The Mitakon 65mm and Fuji X100V
This shoot gave me the chance to use two very different setups:
Mitakon 65mm on Fuji GFX50R: A manual lens that demands patience and precision. Its wide aperture created beautifully blurred backgrounds, isolating Gale against the busy urban backdrop.
Fuji X100V: My favorite for portraits, it handled the varying light conditions brilliantly. The X100V’s ability to capture sharp, emotive shots made it the perfect complement to the Mitakon’s slower pace.
Using both cameras allowed me to blend intentionality with spontaneity, capturing a range of moods and styles throughout the session.
A Slice of Serendipity
Gale Scott, model and musician, striking a pose in a pizza parlor.
One of the most memorable moments from this session happened by chance. As we were walking down 8th Avenue, we passed a pizza place with incredible natural light streaming through its windows. I asked Gale to step inside, and with the owner’s permission, we spent a few minutes capturing some shots—and enjoying a slice of pizza in the process.
This unplanned stop perfectly illustrated the beauty of working with natural light and being open to the unexpected. The combination of the warm interior lighting and the afternoon sun created a cozy, intimate vibe that contrasted beautifully with the hustle of the city outside.
Gale Scott, model, DJ, and musician, posing in NYC’s Meatpacking District
Gale Scott, model, DJ, and musician, enjoying music in NYC’s Meatpacking District.
Lessons in Light and Spontaneity
This shoot with Gale reinforced the importance of flexibility and creativity in photography. Here’s what stood out:
Natural Light is Unpredictable: Embrace it! The soft afternoon glow and city shadows gave the images a unique depth and character.
Versatility Matters: Combining the deliberate approach of the Mitakon 65mm with the quick, reliable Fuji X100V gave me a range of creative possibilities.
Stay Open to Serendipity: The pizza place was an unplanned gem, proving that great shots can come from unexpected places.
Your Turn: Share Your Natural Light Stories
Do you enjoy working with natural light? Have you experimented with manual lenses? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. And if you’ve had any serendipitous moments—like a random pizza place inspiring a perfect shot—I’d love to hear about them!
Suggested Future Topics:
“The Art of Using Shadows in Urban Photography”
“Top Manual Lenses for Portrait Shoots”
“How to Plan and Improvise in Natural Light Photography”