2 Lighting SOURCE OF LIGHT w Natural Sunlight

2 Lighting

SOURCE OF LIGHT w Natural: – Sunlight – Moonlight – Reflected Daylight w Artificial: – – Flash Lamps Studio Lights Street Lights

Natural light w Natural light comes in a wide range & difference between them can be enormous. w The main source of natural light is sun. However it varies in characteristics at different times of the day & weather conditions, turning it into different forms ranging from hard & warm to soft and cool lighting.

Natural light w This image probably represents the most straightforward kind of light the sun gives in terms of character.

Natural light w Being translucent, clouds also have a major impact on colour & character of sunlight. w Light traveling through clouds, is deflected by water particles present in them. This causes rays to bounce around & emerge from it in several directions (diffusion).

Natural light

Midday sunshine

Late afternoon/early evening

Sunset

Dusk

Broken cloud, stormy light, dappled light

Night

Natural vs. Artificial light w Natural light is not necessarily outdoor, nor is artificial light exclusively indoor. w An indoor scene may rely entirely on filtered window light. w Outdoor scenes may rely on artificial lights like lamp post etc.

Artificial & Indoor lighting w Light indoors has a different character to that found outside. w With human beings in control of light source there is an added twist; that a light is often designed for a specific purpose. e. g. household lights are to give appealing, generally diffused light whereas office lighting is more functional & cost-effective.

Indoor Lights w Generally, most artificial light sources are diffused (major exception being spotlights) w This is done to soften light & shadows it produce. w Even sunlight indoors is diffused as it bounces between walls, floors & ceilings.

Mixed Lighting w Its common to see mixture of natural light & artificial light, especially during dawn & dusk leading to an interesting mixtures of colours & intensities w (since natural light & tungsten light have complimentary colours in blue & orange).

Firelight and candlelight w Light that comes from a flame is even redder than incandescent light from light bulbs & we actually perceive it as orange / red. w These light sources are often placed much lower than incandescent lights w Often moving as light from fire & candles flickers.