HOTOGRAPHY TIPS:   OUTDOOR LIGHTING EFFECTS

The quality of light changes throughout the day, and is affected by the angle of the sun in the sky, cloud cover and weather. It may be necessary for a photographer seeking a special lighting effect on location to return to that location at different times of the day to capture the best quality of light.

Time of day

In general, certain times of day offer different kinds of light. Dawn light is clear and cool, virtually without shadow, which makes for little contrast on some areas except for a wider contrast between lit and unlit portions of sky. Therefore, this larger contrast between shadowy dark and soft lights is usually the focus of images captured at this time. At sunrise, the sun is high enough to produce sharp contrasts between lights and darks, but its long rays allow for very little detail except on directly lit areas. This reddish light changes very rapidly.

Morning light produces a fine, clear light with good visibility and clearly defined shadows. However, the contrasts between light and dark are weaker, the quality of the light rather than the contrasts being the most desirable feature of this light. In the afternoon, warmer light give warmer skin tones. Intense overhead sun can create interesting contrast between shadow and light areas, reducing details in the shadows and flattening them out. As the sun descends in the sky, the resulting long rays bounce of water to give a diamond-like sparkle and long bluish shadows contrast with long swathes of light.

Sunset light has similar qualities to sunrise light, except that the rays are less sharp. At dusk, the light resembles dawn light but is softer, and contains more colours, softening hard surfaces and edges, but requiring longer exposures.

Weather

Weather will affect the quality of light dramatically and can alter the colours. When small droplets of moisture are in the air (fine rain, mist or fog), colours will be washed out and contrast will be greatly reduced, creating soft moody atmospheric images. Backlit or side lit subjects in these conditions can produce interesting tonal contrasts and give a strong sense of depth, while a small area of colour, such as a red barn or a flower, against a neutral or muted background will brighten the whole image while maintaining a certain moodiness.

Rain can make surfaces sparkle while clearing skies can produce a delicate, clean, soft light that is most desirable. Also, rain can clear the air of dust and other particles, making the colours glow after a rain and in clear light. Lightning can be photographed using a camera on a tripod facing the direction of a storm, with a small aperture and shutter left open. Rainbows are better photographed against a darker background. Preserve the colours by underexposing rather than overexposing the frame.

Black and white film is usually more effective at capturing atmosphere than colour film, though colour film can be used to excellent effect. To reduce surface glare after rain or to improve colour in adverse weather, it may be helpful to use a polarising filter. Half-colour and dual colour filters can also introduce colour in interesting ways. Bracketing exposures can help improve very poor lighting conditions.

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