We see nothing in absolute darkness. We see nothing in absolute brightness. Hence all we see is contrast. In fact, etymologically the very word “photography” means “writing with light”. A good photographer sees the light (or imagines what he would like to see) and goes to work with what’s on offer within the shades extending between whites and blacks - the dynamic range.
There are many types of light. There is soft, enveloping and ethereal light. There is punchy and crisp light. Small pools of light. Accentuating light. Shadow-lifting light. It comes in many colors and from many directions. Some photographers, be it by artistic choice or merely by lack of means or knowledge, work only with available light. That is of course fine, when the style of photography allows for a spontaneous, opportunistic or merely documentary approach.
In interior photography, however it is rare to find ambient and available artificial light to cooperate in harmony toward the given goals of the photographer. At least at the particular time the picture needs taking. Sometimes the available light even works against you, but you still need to deliver an exceptional image.
That’s why I usually turn up on location with more light modifying gear than cameras. When I shoot, the camera almost counter-intuitively takes the back seat whilst I go to work in front of it to create the light that my inner eye wants to see. The real photographic action will revolve around strobes, modifiers, light blocking materials and multiple exposures for different parts of the composition. The additional effort to produce this qualitative raw material gives me greater creative freedom in post processing, and allows for a superior final result.
The famous photojournalist William Eugene Smith sometimes comes to my mind, when he famously said: “I only work with available light. Available light is any damn light that’s available”. For me, this also encompasses the light I bring and the light I choose to remove in order to sculpt the scene to what my inner eye wants to see when all is processed and done.