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Existing light
Beth,
I use existing light with my set-ups. If I really have to brighten the scene, due to moving subjects, I will use a large soft box with a 1000 watt bulb. I get beautiful light with it. Otherwise I shoot by my north light window.
I have found all my digital cameras, especially the d100, to pick up the cools and warms much better than any film I have ever shot. I have also found many professional photographers overlook this point because so many of them are looking for smooth skin tones and when they see those beautiful blues, greens, and purples that are naturally there, they don't know what to make of them. For so long film has given us generic "skin tones", smoothed and monochromatic in many ways. But, as artists who have worked from life for many years, we know that it's those little variations of cools and warms within the skin that make all the difference to evoke emotional color mixtures on our palettes.
The d100 will work fully auto or totally manual. I prefer manual in controlled situations and auto for on the go.
One key to great shots is to understand how to use the spot metering system for perfect exposures. I am always looking for a med. gray value somewhere on my subject to meter with the built in spot meter and then the rest is looking for the composition. I have 3 512 mg. cards. At high resolution setting, I can go out and shoot 450 shots without downloading. On trips, I just bring my laptop.
But, I haven't touched on the most important aspect of all with digital, seeing if you got the shot before you lose your opportunity. I use to blow off roll after roll to cover myself in case I made mistakes with exposure or focus or whatever. I would have 5 hour photoshoots with models "just to make sure". Now, I can confidentally let my models leave in a third of time knowing I got what I needed. I check my shots constantly and I can check dumb mistakes right away. It even helps me check my compostions so I can change things around to make tangent mistakes go away.
This one thing alone would cause me to buy a digital tomorrow. More megapixels is not really the "answer" to all your photo problems. Learning how to take good shots and understanding the camera that is in your hands is worth much more. You have to feel comfortable with your camera too. If it weighs 8 pounds you will find yourself having all kinds of other problems.
I have found the d100 to fit the bill for my needs. Maybe it would fit yours. Go shoot one in a camera store and see for yourself.
Good luck,
Morgan
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