Natural light vs. artificial light

The advantages and disadvantages of natural and artificial light in photography

In photography, the choice of light source plays an important role in the quality and mood of an image. Photographers can choose between natural light, i.e. daylight, and artificial light sources such as flash units and continuous lighting. Both types of light have their specific advantages and disadvantages and influence the creative process and the end result in different ways. In this blog post, we will shed light on the differences, advantages and disadvantages as well as the possible uses of natural and artificial light in photography.

The advantages and disadvantages of daylight compared to artificial light

Natural look

Daylight offers an incomparable naturalness and authenticity. The sun as a light source creates different lighting moods. While the sun tends to be harsh at midday, which can lead to welcome contrasts in street photography but also to disturbing shadows in portraits, the low sun during the golden hour shortly after sunrise or before sunset creates a soft, diffuse light. The warm, golden light of the low sun is particularly appreciated in outdoor portrait photography, as it creates a very atmospheric ambience.

Flexible and easy to work with

A major advantage of working with natural light is that hardly any additional equipment is required. A reflector is often enough to reflect the sunlight and brighten shadows, or a diffuser to soften harsh sunlight and make shadows appear softer. Both tools are available for mobile use and can be folded up. After use, they are folded up and can be transported to save space. As no elaborate lighting set-ups are required, the workflow for daylight shots can be organized quickly and efficiently. In addition, you can concentrate fully on the subject and the composition without having to worry about the technology of additional light sources.

Dependence on external conditions

A major disadvantage of natural light is that it is dependent on external conditions. The light intensity varies greatly depending on the time of day, the season and the weather. In bad weather or unfavorable lighting conditions, it can be difficult to achieve the desired results. These sometimes unpredictable conditions can make the planning and execution of shoots difficult. They require good preparation and creativity in order to be able to adapt quickly to changing conditions.

Restrictions in the choice of location

The use of natural light can also limit the choice of location. Some locations can only be used optimally at certain times of day or in certain weather conditions. This can limit flexibility and spontaneity when taking photos and requires careful planning. Useful apps such as Sun Surveyor and PhotoPills can help with this. They can be used, for example, to find out the position of the sun at different times of day in advance.

What needs to be considered when working with daylight?

Changing the lighting mood throughout the day

The lighting mood and color temperature of sunlight change throughout the day. This is due to the wavelengths and the scattering of light in the earth's atmosphere. On a cloudless day, the sun has a color temperature of around 5,500 Kelvin. This color temperature is perceived by the human eye as whitish and therefore very neutral. If there are a lot of clouds in the sky, the light appears cooler with a color temperature between 7,000 and 8,000 Kelvin. In the morning and evening, on the other hand, the light is warmer and softer, creating a pleasant atmosphere. At these times of day, the color temperature is between 2,000 and 3,000 Kelvin. Each of these times of day has advantages and disadvantages for photography. It is therefore important to plan the photo shoot well in advance and choose the time of day according to the desired mood and aesthetics in the picture.

The golden and blue hour

The so-called golden hour, shortly after sunrise and before sunset, offers a particularly soft and warm, reddish light, which is particularly suitable for atmospheric portrait and landscape shots. The blue hour is the time after sunset until nightfall. The resulting deep blue light makes for very atmospheric shots that require the use of a tripod or a fixed support for the camera. As the sun has already set at the blue hour, this lighting mood can only be captured with a long exposure.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of artificial light compared to daylight?

Independence from the time of day and weather conditions

Artificial light makes you independent of external conditions. Regardless of the weather, time of day or season - with artificial light you always have full control over the lighting conditions. This gives photographers more planning security and flexibility when carrying out their shoots.

Consistency and reproducibility

Artificial light offers constant and reproducible lighting conditions throughout the day. Once a lighting setup has been set up, it can be used again and again without the need to adapt to changing lighting conditions. This is particularly beneficial in studio environments where consistent light quality and intensity are important.

Precise lighting and creative control

With artificial light sources, the light can be set in a targeted manner so that complex lighting moods can be created. This enables precise control of the lighting and shadows, which is particularly helpful for portrait, product and advertising shots. The use of different light shapers and light sources opens up a wide range of creative possibilities.

Higher technical effort and costs

The use of artificial light often requires more technical equipment and careful planning of the lighting setups. As a result, working methods can be less flexible and spontaneous than with daylight. Assistants are also helpful for optimally positioning flash or continuous light and making settings. The purchase costs for high-quality flash and continuous lighting units can also be high, which can be a hurdle for beginners in particular.

Artificial light: What is the difference between flash and continuous light?

The choice between flash and continuous light depends heavily on the specific requirements of the photo shoot. We highlight the advantages of each.

Advantages of flash light

High light output with short exposure times:

Flash light offers a high light output and enables short exposure times, which is particularly advantageous when shooting moving subjects. The short light pulses freeze movements and prevent motion blur.

Less heat development:

As flash units only flash for a very short time, they generate less heat in the long term than continuous light sources that shine continuously over longer periods of time. This is particularly advantageous in closed rooms and when working with heat-sensitive materials.

Energy efficiency:

Flash lamps consume comparatively less energy as they only emit short pulses. Continuous light sources, on the other hand, need to be constantly supplied with power.

Advantages of continuous light

What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG):

With continuous light, photographers can see and assess the lighting effect directly before taking the shot. This makes it easier to adjust the lighting and control the shadows.

Easier work for beginners:

Continuous light is often easier for beginners as there is no need for complicated flash synchronization or special exposure techniques. With continuous light, you can see the effect of the light immediately and adjust the camera settings accordingly.

More versatile for photo and video:

Continuous light is suitable for both photo and video shoots. This makes it particularly attractive for photographers who want to cover both media without having to switch between different light sources.

Variable color temperature and RGB colors:

With some continuous lights, the color temperature of the light can be flexibly adjusted from warm to cold to match the ambient light. Such permanent lights are often identified by the term "bi-color". In addition, some permanent lights are equipped with an RGB function. RGB stands for the colors red, green and blue. The colors can be mixed as desired. This allows photographers and videographers to create colored light without having to use additional color foils.

No flash metering required:

When working with flash light, flash metering or a test shot is often necessary to achieve the correct exposure. With continuous light, this step is no longer necessary as the lighting can be assessed and adjusted directly in real time.

Flash or continuous light: which artificial light is better for portrait photography?

Portrait photography

Both flash and continuous light are suitable for portrait photography, depending on the specific requirements and the desired lighting mood. Flash is the light of choice for many professionals and can be used, for example, for dramatic and well-controlled portraits with hard shadows and high-key effects. Flash light also offers sufficient power to brighten up people in the foreground in outdoor shots with backlighting.

Continuous light enables a natural lighting mood and relaxed working without flash metering. Continuous light is also an advantage when taking portraits with a large aperture and shallow depth of field. As a lot of light falls on the sensor at large apertures such as f/1.8, f/1.4 or even f/1.2, a flash, even if it is only set to a low power, can quickly lead to overexposure. This is also due to the fact that you are bound to the flash sync speeds when setting the shutter speed with flash, whereas you can change the shutter speed as you wish with continuous light. Continuous lights can also be set very low, which also prevents overexposure when shooting with a wide-open aperture. Both types of light offer a wide range of creative possibilities and can be used depending on the situation and the photographer's preference.

Sports photography

This is where flash really comes into its own. In sports photography, flash is often the better choice due to its high light output and the ability to freeze fast movements. The short light pulses of the flash prevent motion blur and enable sharp shots even with fast movements. In some situations, continuous light can provide too little light at very fast shutter speeds and is therefore less suitable for sports and action shots.

Product photography

In product photography, controlled lighting is important in order to bring out the best in details and textures. Both flash light and continuous light are suitable here, whereby the colors of the products can often appear more contrasty and brilliant with flash light. Continuous light, on the other hand, enables immediate visual control and adjustment of the lighting setup, which can be particularly advantageous for beginners in product photography.

Food photography

In food photography, daylight at the window or artificial continuous light is often used, as both create a soft and natural lighting mood. The light should highlight the textures and colors of the food and allow for an appetizing presentation. Flash lighting can also be used, but requires careful lighting control to avoid harsh shadows and present the food in an appealing way. Continuous light offers the advantage that the photographer can directly see and adjust the lighting effect.

Conclusion

The choice between daylight and artificial light depends heavily on the specific requirements of the shoot. While daylight creates a very natural lighting mood and makes it very easy to work without a lot of equipment or assistants, artificial light offers the freedom to take photos regardless of the weather and time of day - and with constant illumination. If you opt for artificial light, flash light often offers higher performance for action photos, dynamic portraits and shots with hard shadows. Continuous light, on the other hand, offers photographers and videographers the opportunity to work with open apertures and directly control how the light works and whether adjustments are necessary. Continuous light is therefore particularly suitable for beginners. With the knowledge of the strengths of the three light sources, you are now in a position to decide specifically which lighting will deliver the best results for your next photo project.