How Lighting Affects Photography
A highly important consideration for photographers is light. In truth, light effect is captured by photographers on objects, if the picture is taken in light that comes naturally or coming from incandescent light. Any photographer that is aware of how the lens and eye identify the colour scale is able to optimize the light use in photography.The Spectrum of Colour To the naked eye, the sun’s natural light as well as the incandescent artificial light seems white. But if a light is shone through prism, a rainbow variety of colours will appear. What this shows is how white ‘colour’ has each colour spectrum shade.When an object is hit by light, a bit of the spectrum colour is absorbed by the object and is reflected back to the other colours. The colour portion that the object did not absorb, but reflected to the eye, will be the colour that the human eye perceives of the object. For example, black will be the colour of the spectrum that is reflected by a white wall. Therefore, the camera lens (human eyes) sees white. In addition, a red rose will reflect the colour spectrum’s red colour while a black object will absorb all the colours on the spectrum.Colour Photography with Natural LightContrary to what several persons think, light in natural form in photography is not constant. Whether you are taking pictures of the family at an important event or when you are making memories when you travel, at various times during the day, a variety of colour spectrum shades control natural light. For example, in the middle of the day, the dominant colour of the spectrum is the blue segment, giving off a light that can be described as cool. At this time of day, the sharpest and clearest pictures are produced in light that is bright.Quite the reverse, natural sunrise and sunset light highlights the red section of the spectrum of colour. In photography terms, sunset and sunrise light is called warm light and these create warmer photos having a contrast that is softer.Photography and Artificial LightWhen artificial light is utilized in photography, the lighting effect will be determined by the kind of bulb that is used. The warm glow that is dispersed by the incandescent light generates a dramatically different effect when compared to what a focused, narrow and sharp street light beam is able to produce.Incandescent light photographs tend to have a hint of yellow. This can be combated by using one of two methods. One is to utilize a filter of blue colour to counteract the unwanted yellowing. If a camera with film is being used rather that a digital camera, tungsten film created for professional studio or cinema lights can be used. Even though it was not designed intentionally for incandescent light, the yellow quality that is frequently seen in indoor photography is reduced.The use of fluorescent lights as well as street lamps generates diffuse light which frequently converts into greenish hints in photography with colour. This unsightly colour can be removed with the help of daytime or fluorescent filter. A photographer is able to use the effect of the greenish tint caused from street lamps to his benefit; the greenish hint can bring forth ghostly or mysterious effects.Photography – Direct and Diffused LightThe course of direct or diffuse light used in photography is essential. The subject’s appearance is changed with different light angles that generate different shadows. Direct light is ideal if you want high level distinction between shadows and light. Diffuse light, for example fluorescent lighting, catches the subject in various directions. Lack of contrast in this case mutes and softens the colours and image respectively.Light and Digital Cameras in PhotographyThere are particular light settings available with digital cameras. A few of the popular settings are:Auto – for the camera to adjust to light which changesCloudy – for use outdoor when it is overcast or cloudySunny/Daylight – using flash to take pictureFlash – use with pictures utilizing the flashTungsten or Incandescent – for use in incandescent lightingFluorescent – for use in scenes that are lit by lights from fluorescent sourceManual – for managing each slot’s lighting. The photographer needs to point the camera lens at white colour paper to manually alter lighting settings.Black and White or Colour PhotographyLighting is essential for photography of colour but it is more necessary for sepia or black and white. This may sound counterintuitive but the absence of colour indicates that the main feature involved in photography with black white is the light-shadow contrast.The same basic rules relating to light in photography goes for black and white photographs too. For instance, a higher level contrast when compared to diffuse light is created by direct light. The light-shadow contrast is more noticeable in black white photography than in colour, so direct light should be the selection of photographers when designing the shot.