Light is an essential element in photography. The type of light you use can greatly affect the outcome of your photograph. Good light can elevate your photo to a professional level, while bad light can ruin even the most well-planned composition. However, what makes light good or bad? In this article, I will explore the characteristics of natural and artificial light in photography and provide tips on how to modify both types of light to produce high-quality photographs.

What Is Natural Light In Photography?

Sun is the primary natural light source in photography and offers a wide range of lighting options, from harsh and colourful to soft and diffused. Understanding how sunlight interacts with your images takes practice but can greatly expand your photographic potential.

Natural light can originate from various sources, including volcanoes, bioluminescence, firelight, or starlight; it requires some effort to work with it. Unlike artificial light, which can be easily adjusted, natural light offers a narrower range of modifying options.

Why Use Natural Light?

One of the main advantages of natural light is that it looks familiar and pleasing to the human eye. Although cameras cannot perfectly capture what we see, the shadows, direction, and tone produced by natural light usually seem normal to viewers. Even though intense natural light, such as sunlight at noon, may cause issues for the camera due to excessive contrast, it won't appear as artificial light misused.

Using natural light has a great advantage: it is widely available and easy to work with. There is no need to spend time setting up artificial lighting systems or adjusting colour temperatures, as natural light is abundant and readily available during the daytime.

Natural light is commonly said to be easier to use than artificial light, but I don't completely agree with this statement. Beginners unfamiliar with Flash may find it easier to work with natural light and achieve good results. However, selecting natural light should be based on how it suits the photo and not simply because it is easier to use than learning to use Flash. Choosing the appropriate lighting should be a deliberate decision and not a result of laziness.

How To Modify Natural Light?

Below have some tips and techniques of modification under the Natural Light.

Shade

A simple technique to alter natural light is to position your subject in a shaded area. This could be under a tree, building, or with the help of an umbrella or diffuser. This will help soften and enhance harsh, direct light into a more flattering illumination.

You can move your subject to a shaded area; the direct sunlight won't hit it. As a result, the shadows on your subject will become less harsh, and the light in the shaded area could fill in more of your subject's features.

When you shoot in the shade, pay attention to how bright your subject is compared to the background. It is similar to working with artificial light, and it affects how your image looks. If your subject is bright and the environment is dark, it creates a spotlight effect for your viewer. On the other hand, a photo with a colourful, sunny background can look very cheerful.

Clouds

In my desert area, there are not many cloudy, overcast days. However, when there are clouds, they can turn the sky into a softbox and create unique lighting effects. Full cloud coverage provides the softest light, while scattered clouds can add interest to landscape photographs.

You cannot fabricate clouds on demand; keeping an eye out for fascinating weather patterns can aid you in scheduling photo shoots for specific subjects. In areas that experience frequent cloudiness, you can access your weather application to obtain information about the anticipated weather conditions for upcoming hours and days. Utilising cloud cover to your advantage when planning photo sessions will result in more compelling photographs.

Time Of Day

The amount and quality of natural light can change significantly within a few hours. For example, mid-afternoon light, golden hour, sunset, and blue hour each give a distinct appearance to your subject. Additionally, certain lighting conditions are brief, such as when the sun momentarily emerges from behind storm clouds.

The best time of day for your photos can be challenging due to the many conditions. However, my advice is to plan and consider what would work best for the specific images you want to take. Instead of just looking at the light, determine which times of day would suit your desired outcome.

Angles

You cannot control the sun's position (and hopefully, you won't try); you can adjust your subject's position in relation to the sun. The angle at which you face the sun significantly impacts the quality of natural light in your shots.

Create dramatic backlighting, and position your subject between yourself and the sun. For good fill light on your subject and some shadows for contrast, have the sun slightly off-centre and behind you. For revealing texture and shape in landscapes or architecture, use side-lighting that can create long shadows and sharp contrast.

What Is Artificial Light In Photography?

Photographers use artificial light sources such as on-camera Flash, off-camera strobes, and constant lights like LEDs or lamps and neon signs in the environment. When referring to artificial light, they usually mean flashes or continuous lights that can be controlled.

You add light to a scene; it's important to remember that it should complement the natural light instead of completely replacing it. For instance, Fill Flash can lighten the shadows while taking outdoor portraits. When taking pictures of a bride and groom on a dimly lit dance floor, artificial light is necessary to see and capture the subject properly.

Photographers have access to various artificial light sources, such as on-camera flashes, studio strobes, and continuous lights that can be modified in multiple ways to provide greater control over the amount and quality of light. This contrasts with natural light sources, which have more limited power. I will discuss the modifications in a separate section.

Why Use Artificial Light?

Artificial light in photography offers great control, which is its major advantage. In numerous photography genres, having the ability to precisely adjust the amount, direction, and quality of light is crucial. Controlling the light's colour, movement, and softness also provides many creative possibilities.

Using artificial light provides the advantages of repeatability and consistency. Unlike natural light, which changes frequently, artificial light remains stable. This is particularly useful when working with various clients who desire your unique style or when you want to be more efficient by using a preferred lighting arrangement.

Similarly, if you use artificial light, you won't face any unexpected situations. For example, the weather could suddenly turn dark and stormy in an outdoor photoshoot. However, if you use a strobe, you won't have this issue as long as you remember to charge your batteries.

Artificial light enables you to shoot high-quality portraits even at night and freeze fast-moving subjects with a flash that would have otherwise required an ISO of 25,600 without one, surpassing the technical limits of your camera in natural light.

How To Modify Artificial Light?

Some of the tips and techniques of modification under the artificial light to capture unforgetful scenes.

Start With The Light Source

Various types of artificial light sources are available for photography, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.

• Small flashes are a cost-effective and user-friendly lighting option that offers adequate brightness for smaller subjects and groups of people. Although they allow you to capture fast-moving subjects precisely, they may not include high-end features.

• Flash units with bigger sizes offer higher power output and quicker recycling times, and they are suitable for filling larger light modifiers like softboxes and parabolic umbrellas. However, they usually come at a higher price point.

• LED-based lights offer various creative options such as RGB, CCT, and gelled colour modes and are suitable for video. However, they may be less bright than flash/strobe lights, making them unsuitable for certain applications.

Well, make a good decision; knowing how the type of artificial light you choose will affect your desired outcome is crucial. Using bright light in conjunction with a large softbox is recommended for a more softened appearance. Conversely, if you plan to film a video, you should find a continuous light that suits your needs.

Modifiers

When selecting your lighting kit, including a budget for various modifiers is important. Having a variety of modifiers can greatly enhance the usefulness of artificial light sources. Adding softboxes and strip boxes can make your light source appear larger, while a snoot or grid will help you control the spill more precisely. Additionally, using gels can help you create different colours and match your strobe to other light sources in the scene, such as a sunset.

If you're new to using artificial lighting, the variety of light modifiers available can be overwhelming. To simplify things, I recommend starting with three basic items: a tool to soften the light, a tool to focus the morning, and gels to add colour. With these three options, you'll have a lot of creative possibilities.

You can utilise an umbrella or softbox to make the light softer to achieve more precise lighting. On the other hand, inexpensive tools like a snoot or grid can help to focus the light and make it harder. There are various gel kits, but selecting one that can conveniently be attached to your light source is important.

Distance

Another effective way to modify artificial light is to adjust the distance between the light source and the subject. Moving the light closer can have two effects: it can make the light appear softer by increasing its apparent size and result in brighter illumination of the subject.

Wrapping Up…….

For a photographer, it's crucial to understand light, even if you only shoot landscapes and don't use artificial lighting. Knowing the concepts behind how sunlight interacts with the landscape throughout the day will help you visualise and capture your shots effectively.

Now is a good time if you have yet to learn how to use your Flash. Artificial light can add flexibility and creativity to your photography, making it a valuable skill for almost any type of photography.

This article helped you understand the characteristics of natural and artificial light and how to manipulate them to create your desired image style.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Users have asked the most common questions regarding photography with natural and artificial lighting.

Q. Is Natural Light Better In Photography?

Ans. Good natural lighting can be more vital than the subject you're shooting in photography. This is because light influences the mood and character of your photos, making it the most critical aspect that provides realism and expression to images.

Q. What Is The Most Useful Light In Photography, Natural Light or Artificial Light?

Ans. Natural light is a fast and cost-effective way to light up photographs. Photos taken with natural light often look better than those with artificial light. Sunlight is incredibly bright and powerful, far outshining any artificial light source.

Q. What Is The Best Type Of Lighting For Photography?

Ans. The best light source is typically natural daylight due to its broad spectrum. While rooms with large windows can be beneficial, avoiding direct sunlight on your subject is important. If this occurs, try finding a different location in the room for your shot.