Types of Light

There are different types of natural light available to the photographer. Each type of light will produce different results. Knowing and understanding the light you are dealing with will help you achieve better results.

Harsh Light
Found on bight sunny days, when the sun is high in sky.

- This type of light can produce deep rich blue skys, especially when used with powerful flash lighting and under exposing the sky by a stop or two (add a warming gel to the flash and change the colour balance in photoshop to tungsten to enhance the blue even more).

- Lots of light provides the opportunity to use low ISO, small apertures and fast shutter speeds. I use these conditions to my advantage regularly when panning at motor racing events.

- Be aware of the harsh contrast in this type of light.

- Be aware of the harsh short shadows produced by this type of light, especially when photographing people. Using a reflector or fill flash will help reduce these shadows.

- Be aware bright light makes people squint, if possible turn them away from the light.

- Light in these conditions can have a blue colour cast.

Low Light
Found during early morning and late evening on bright days during the Summer months and during Winter days when the sun does not get high in the sky.

- This type of light produces long raking shadows that can give a sense of depth to a picture.

- When used side on this light is great at revealing textures.

- Be aware of the contrast in this type of light.

- Be aware this type of light is very warm and has an orange colour cast.

Diffused light
Found on days when the sun is covered by cloud (pretty common where I live).

- This type of light can help to make beautiful outdoor portraits.

- The light is soft and even, producing soft light shadows.

- People are less likely to squint under this type of light.

- You don't have to wait for overcast days for this type of light. On a sunny day stand your subject in shade (you will physically see the difference when they walk into the shade). Be careful if that shade is a tree, portraits shot underneath a green canopy will inevitably look greener than you expect, but this is easily fixed by increasing the amount of magenta in your colour balance.

- Sometimes this type of lighting condition doesn't produce enough light and you will find you have to use higher ISO, lower shutter speeds and wider apertures.

Flat Light

Found in Mist, fog and early morning.

- This type of light will soften the sharpness.

- This type of light will lower contrast.

- This type of light will help produce an image with a delicate feel to it.

- With the lower contrast and the soft light the cloud cover acts like a giant softbox and there will be little difference between exposure readings taken from sky and land. Shadows will also be very soft.