hakimi bin halim. the direction of light in photography is important: different angles of light...
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The Fundamental of Lighting and Color in Photography
Hakimi bin Halim
Diffuse and Direct/ Contrast Lighting
The direction of light in photography is important: different angles of light produce different shadows, changing the appearance of your subject.
Light in photography may be diffuse or direct. Direct light, such as light from the noon sun, hits the subject from one direction. If you’re looking for high contrast between light and shadows, direct light is a good choice.
Diffuse and Direct/ Contrast Lighting
On the other hand, diffuse light hits the subject from several directions. Florescent lighting is one example of diffuse light in photography. The loss of contrast that diffuse light produces mutes colors and softens the image.
Contrast Lighting
Direct Lighting
Diffuse Lighting
Diffuse Lighting
Umbra and Penumbra
The shadow volume behind an object lit by an area light source (in contrast to a point light source) doesn't have sharp boundaries. This is caused by the fact that each point in the boundary area is only partially shadowed. The area (volume) in full shadow is the umbra, the boundary area the penumbra.
Umbra and Penumbra
Umbra and Penumbra
Umbra and Penumbra
Umbra and Penumbra
Umbra and Penumbra
Antumbra
Antumbra
Inverse Square Law
It's useful to know a little about the inverse square law especially when using flash or studio lights.
Basically all the inverse square law says is that an object that is twice the distance from a point source of light will receive a quarter of the illumination.
Inverse Square Law
What it means to us photographers is that if you move your subject from 3 meters away to six meters away, you will need four times the amount of light for the same exposure.
Inverse Square Law
The reason why the power of the light diminishes so rapidly is not because it 'runs out of energy' or anything like that, but because it spreads and so a smaller and smaller proportion of the light hits the object. Here's a little diagram to illustrate the point.
Inverse Square Law
The Formula of ISL
Inverse Square Law = 1/Distance2
ISL = 1/D2
Light Theory
The Color SpectrumBoth the natural light of the sun and artificial incandescent light appear white to the naked eye. However, if you shine light through a prism, it splits into a rainbow of colors. This effect shows how the “color” white contains every shade in the color spectrum.
The Color Spectrum
Color can only exist when three components are present: a viewer, an object, and light. Although pure white light is perceived as colorless, it actually contains all colors in the visible spectrum.
When white light hits an object, it selectively blocks some colors and reflects others; only the reflected colors contribute to the viewer's perception of color.
Visible Spectrum
Isaac Newton Discovered Visual Spectrum
Electromagnetic Wavelength Naked human eyes can only see the small
magnitude of electromagnetic wavelength. Our eyes only can see the electromagnetic distance from 400nanometer to 700 nanometer
(1 nanometer (nm) = 1/1,000,000nm or 1 nm = 10 Angstrom)
Human eyes interprets 400nm to 700 nm as white light.
Electromagnetic Wavelength
The white light as interpret by our eyes divided into a range of distance
400nm to 450 nm = Violet 450 nm to 500 nm = Indigo / Blue 500nm to 580 nm = Blue / Green 580 nm – 600nm = Yellow 600nm – 650 nm = Orange 700nm = Red
Electromagnetic Wavelength
Electromagnetic Wavelength
Electromagnetic Wavelength
However, besides 400nm – 700nm, human eyes can also sense Ultraviolet (100nm) wave and Inflared (1 micron) wavelength.
Tips = The short wavelength interpret by human eyes is Violet (400nm) while the longest wavelength is Red (700nm)
Electromagnetic Wavelength
Electromagnetic Wavelength
It also travel in a straight lines.
Electromagnetic Wavelength
Electromagnetic Wavelength
The radiation also brought the quantum energy known as Photons
Color Mixture in Photography
Primary color Involve Blue, Green and Red. (RGB) The mixture RGB colors with the
same quantity will produce white color.
Color Mixture in Photography
Secondary Color It engage Yellow, Magenta and Cyan
(CMY) The mixture of CMY with the same
composition/amount will produce Black Color
Color Mixture in Photography
Complimentary Color complementary colors tend to look
balanced and are colors opposite to each other on the color wheel
Additive and Subtractive Color Virtually all our visible colors can be produced
by utilizing some combination of the three primary colors, either by additive or subtractive processes.
Additive processes create color by adding light to a dark background, whereas subtractive processes use pigments or dyes to selectively block white light. A proper understanding of each of these processes creates the basis for understanding color reproduction.
Additive Color
Subtractive Color
Additive Color Mixing(RGB Color)
Red + Green → Yellow Green + Blue → Cyan Blue + Red → Magenta Red + Green + Blue → White
Subtractive Color Mixing(CMYK Color)
Cyan + Magenta → Blue Magenta + Yellow → Red Yellow + Cyan → Green Cyan + Magenta + Yellow → Black
Complimentary Color
Opposite site of each color can be identify as a complimentary color. For example : Magenta is complementary to green color