As most creators know, light is the fundamental element in photography. In fact, the word photography was created by merging two Greek words light and drawing together; the art of photography would simply not exist without light.
Different types of lights can capture various emotions and scenes in photography, which is why understanding and mastering a few lighting fundamentals can take your images to the next level.
Let's dive deep into a landscape photographer’s most valuable element: natural light.
What is natural lighting in photography?
Natural lighting in photography means exactly that: photography that uses the sun as its main light source. This type of lighting can create the most beautiful shots but it isn’t always the easiest to work with.
To truly understand natural light, we need to understand its characteristics.
Color:
There are various shades of colors that are produced by different light sources, with a cooler blue at one end of the spectrum and warmer red-ish at the other end. These different colors are found throughout the day depending on the time and how cloudy it is outside.
Color can drastically change the mood and look of a photo, this is why as a photographer it is important to understand what types of colors the sun creates throughout the day.
For example, the sky appears light blue at dawn (blue hour) while it appears orange at sunset (golden hour).
Intensity:
Intensity is the quantity of light found in the photograph. Intensity is measured by the harshness and brightness of the light and helps determine how much light is present in the scene. A more intense amount of light will create sharp edges, while a less intense amount of light will create soft edges.
The most intensity is usually found at noon when the sun is directly overhead and the least intense in the early morning/late evening.
Direction:
The direction of the sun has a big impact on the kind of natural light you will get in your photograph.
Photographing at different times of the day will produce largely different images even in the exact same location.
What are the different types of natural light?
Hard/Direct Light
Hard light is a light that contains very sharp and immediate transitions from highlights to shadows. It creates a clear-cut difference between the darkest and lightest areas of the image, a very defined contrast.
This type of light is most found midday and has high contrast, producing sharp edges and very defined shadows around your subject.
Soft/Diffused Light
Soft light is a type of light with very few hard shadows, and very gradual transitions between light and shadow.
The greater the softness of the light, the more gradual the transition is, creating a “wrap” around the subject effect
This type of light is found in low contrast moments of the day, producing soft light, mild shadows and soft edges resulting in a very dreamy look.
Reflected light
Reflected light is the outcome of a light source bouncing off an object, this creates a soft glow. The rougher your surface is, the softer the reflected light will be.
Nature has lots of natural reflectors for landscape photographers like cliffs, trees, etc, all of these reflect light in their own way by creating pools of indirect light around them. This is a great way to manipulate natural light and use nature around you to create different looks and emotions.
Dappled light
Dappled light is a type of light that is created when you have small pockets of light coming onto your subject. This creates a unique effect with the combination of soft light and shade.
This type of light is most achievable when the sunlight has been filtered through tree leaves. It can be both soft and hard, it is best shot in the morning or late afternoon.
Tips for Achieving the Type of Natural Light You Want
Find the correct/best settings for your camera.
Where do you want the sun to be positioned? Plan the time of day when you’re going to shoot accordingly
Have a backup day if weather conditions change
Be patient, the best photos take time!
If you’re not sure where to start, Creator Circuit has hundreds of tutorials that can help you transform your photography.
Natural light is truly a photographer’s best friend, understanding it and working with nature’s constant changes will help you achieve the best shots.
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