Lighting
What is Lighting?
Light in photography refers to how the Light Source, which can be Natural or Artificial, is positioned in relation to your subject. The position and quality of Light can affect any number of things in your final photo, from clarity to tone to emotion and so much more.
Light in photography refers to how the Light Source, which can be Natural or Artificial, is positioned in relation to your subject. The position and quality of Light can affect any number of things in your final photo, from clarity to tone to emotion and so much more.
There are two main types of Light when working with Photography: Natural and Artificial.
Natural Lighting is nature created light (sun/moon). If using a DSLR, you must always adjust camera settings to match the time of day or weather conditions and consider desired effects.
There are many different Natural Lighting sections throughout the day that can create different effects in your Photography:
- Sunny: Adjust camera accordingly. Extreme sun conditions can create silhouette effects
- Sunny: Adjust camera accordingly. Extreme sun conditions can create silhouette effects
Overcast: Provides indirect and even lighting. Considered a favorite to professional photographers
Blue Hour: Several hours before sunrise where you can experience deep shades of blue. Ideal for night time photography (cityscapes
- Dawn: Directly before sunrise when you experience pastel colors in sky
Golden hour: Right after sun rises or right before sun sets which provides warm golden glow to subject
Now on to Artificial Lighting:
Artificial Lighting is any light source produced by electrical/artificial means to create practical or aesthetic effects.
Artificial Lighting is any light source produced by electrical/artificial means to create practical or aesthetic effects.
When using either Natural Lighting or Artificial Lighting, there are many different Lighting scenarios you can achieve depending on how you are utilizing or positioning your Light source.
- Front Lighting (or Flat Light): Front Light occurs when the light source is directly in front of your subject. Since the light is not at an angle, this can result in a limited amount of shadows. The light will be spread evenly across the photo, with no section more or less exposed than the rest.
- Front Lighting (or Flat Light): Front Light occurs when the light source is directly in front of your subject. Since the light is not at an angle, this can result in a limited amount of shadows. The light will be spread evenly across the photo, with no section more or less exposed than the rest.
- Back Lighting: Backlit photos are when the light source is behind the subject, with the subject in between the light and your camera. This can be a great opportunity to play with silhouette and long shadows in your photography.
Side Lighting: Lighting a subject from the Side will produce the most dramatic pictures, with deep shadows and a lot of depth. This look is very specific, with emotional and moody undertones.
Back vs. Front vs. Side Lighting comparison:
Soft Light: Soft Lighting occurs when your light source is diffused, so that the effect is more subtle than it would be with a direct source of light. By using Soft Light, you will end up with less intense shadows, if any at all, and a lower contrast between the darks and lights in your photo.
- Hard Light: The opposite of soft or diffused light, Hard Lighting is when your light source is pointed directly at your subject. It results in high contrast and intensity, bright whites and dark shadow, and is often created by making use of the midday sun. You can also manufacture this type of light in your studio by using a spotlight or other source of light that is not diffused
Hard Light vs. Soft Light
- Low Light: Situations where there is little light making minimal contrast and it is more difficult to see/focus. Must adjust exposure settings or use artificial light sources.
- High Key Light (white scene lighting): extreme bright lighting usually without many shadows or contrast. Used often for model and product photography.
- If using a DSLR: More open aperture/small f-stop OR slow shutter speed (usually requires artificial light source)
- If using a DSLR: More open aperture/small f-stop OR slow shutter speed (usually requires artificial light source)
- Low Key Light (dark scene lighting): utilizes darkness and shadows to create heavy contrast to set a mood