How to Use Light in Different Environments

Indoor Daily Life: Skillfully Utilize Window Light

Indoor lighting can be rather complex, while window light serves as a natural “photo studio”. When taking portraits near the window, the light is soft. With side lighting, there is a natural contrast between light and shade on the person’s face, enhancing the three-dimensional effect and outlining a beautiful silhouette. It also works well for photographing plants and still lifes, creating a rich sense of light and shadow layers. If the light is too harsh, draw the white gauze curtain, and the soft light effect will be immediately achieved. It makes everything look like it has a natural filter, avoiding the “panda eye” shadows caused by direct overhead indoor light, and getting rid of the ugly light and shadow in photos.

Outdoor on a Sunny Day: Embrace Natural Light

On a sunny day outdoors, there is plenty of light but with certain considerations. Between 9 – 11 am and 3 – 5 pm, the light shines obliquely, which is most suitable for photographing landscapes. It can lengthen the shadows, adding a three-dimensional feel to mountains, rivers and buildings. The same goes for portraits. The backlight side can outline the hair strands, creating a “glowing” portrait. Front lighting is good for photographing brightly colored flowers and architectural details, making them clear and bright. In strong sunlight, use the HDR function on your phone to preserve the details of both the dark and bright areas, preventing the beautiful scenery under the blue sky and white clouds from being overexposed or underexposed.

Outdoor on a Cloudy Day: Capture the Soft Tone

On a cloudy day, the light is uniform and soft. Although there is no strong contrast like on a sunny day, it is a great opportunity to shoot artistic photos. When taking portraits, the skin tone appears even and soft, like having a skin smoothing effect. For lake views and forests, it creates a full sense of tranquility, with an elegant picture. Use a reflector to add some light to the dark areas, making the eyes, water droplets on flower petals more vivid. When photographing city street scenes, the cloudy day brings a cold tone, making the tall buildings look modern and solemn, adding a unique flavor to the photos.

On the Street at Night: Artificial Light Adds Color

When the streetlights are lit and the night is bustling. Taking portraits under the streetlights, the warm yellow light gives a warm and vintage feel. With the neon lights of shops as the background, the portraits look trendy. For photographing night landscapes, use long exposure to turn the trails of car lights and streetlights into flowing light bands, adding a dynamic feel to the city. Use the professional mode on your phone to adjust the large aperture and increase the sensitivity to capture the faint light and preserve the details in the dark areas, turning the night into a dreamy light and shadow show and saying goodbye to dark and blurry photos.