Photography Lighting Notes

Lighting in Photography

• Color Temperature: Measured in Kelvin.

  • 5500K is daylight.

  • Cool light: winter, high altitudes.

  • Warm light: late afternoon, summer.

• White Balance (WB): Adjusts camera settings for the scene's color temperature.

  • Auto WB effectively balances many lighting conditions: Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Fluorescent, Incandescent.

• Characteristics of Light:

  • Direction: Affects shadows (Front, Backlit, Side).

  • Degree of Diffusion:

  • Larger source = softer light

  • Smaller source = harder/ more concentrated light.

  • Types:

  • Hard, Direct: Harsh light, strong contrast (not ideal for portraits).

  • Diffused: Softer, even illumination (ideal for portraits).

• Time of Day Effects:

  • Sunrise/Early Morning: Softer, cooler colors due to atmosphere.

  • Noon: Strong white light (good for true hues, but harsh shadows).

  • Late Afternoon/Evening: Warm golden glow with long shadows.

  • Night: Nearly monochromatic.

• Light Management/Control:

  • Natural Light: Ambient light in the scene.

  • Artificial Light: Includes flashes and continuous lights.

  • Main Light Source: Strongest light on the subject.

  • Fill Light: Supplements main light to reduce shadow intensity (e.g., using flash or reflector).

• Light Modifiers:

  • Diffusers: Smooth out shadows.

  • Reflectors: Reflect light back onto the subject (white, silver, gold options).

  • Bounce Light: Softens light by bouncing off walls or ceilings.

• Flash Exposure Compensation:

  • Adjust flash output for different lighting needs.

• Flash Modes:

  • Auto: Camera decides flash is needed.

  • Red Eye Reduction: Fires pre-flash to reduce red-eye effect.

  • Slow Shutter Sync: Used at night with a tripod, combines subject exposure and background light.