essential skills: digital photography in available light
Quality
Light from a point light source such as an open fl ash or the sun is described as having a ‘hard
quality’. The directional shadows created by this type of light are dark with well-defi ned edges.
The shadows created by the sun are dark but not totally devoid of illumination. This illumination
is provided by refl ected skylight. The earth’s atmosphere scatters some of the shorter blue
wavelengths of light and provides an umbrella of low-level light. Artifi cial point light sources
create a much harsher light when used at night or away from the softening effects of skylight. The
light from a point light source can also be diffused, spread or refl ected off larger surface areas.
Directional light maintains its ‘hard quality’ when refl ected off a mirror surface but is scattered in
different directions when refl ected off a matte surface. This lowers the harshness of the light and
the shadows now receive proportionally more light when compared to the highlights. The light
is said to have a softer quality. The shadows are less dark (detail can be seen in them) and the
edges are no longer clearly defi ned.
The smaller the light source, the harder the light appears.
The larger the light source, the softer the light appears.The control over quality of light is an essential skill when on location. Often the photographer will
encounter scenes where the quality of the available light creates enormous diffi culties for the
latitude of the image sensor. The photographer must learn techniques to alter the quality of light
or risk loss of detail and information. The quality of light, whether hard or soft, can be changed by
diffusion and refl ection.
Harsh light Soft light - Orien Harvey