What is Ambient Light in Photography?
Most photographers and magazines require natural light only in their images.
Most often this would need a tripod and the use of slow shutter speeds to mitigate dark areas in the space that need capturing. But if the space is characterized by light features such as neon and lamps that make the atmosphere of the room, then I’m for capturing these with the lights on too.
In my opinion, it is necessary to be selective with the amount of artificial ambient light to allow in a photographic composition to ensure a harmonious and natural-looking image.
More importantly, it is a must to edit out the lights that are unnecessary in the space for the image you want to achieve. Below are three different lighting set-ups in one space. All three dramatically change the look and feel of the same room.
On the photos below, the top photo utilized only natural light. The photo in the middle had all sorts of lights going on like festoon, lamps, fairy lights, candlelight, and neon but without the main ceiling chandelier, which is very bright. The third photo had the chandelier switched on on top of everything else, but because it got too bright, it killed the ambiance in the room.
For Project 7-Light Painting and Phantom Images use will be using ARTIFICIAL AMBIENT LIGHTING for the painting and more than likely a mix of NATURAL and AMBIENT Lighting for the Phantom Images.
ALWAYS USE NEW IMAGES AND EDIT IN PS OR LR.
You will create;
5 DIFFERENT Light Painting images
5 DIFFERENT Phantom Images
for a total of 10 image
Titles for each image
Post to your new Weebly Page titled Light Painting and Phantom Images
Alternative Option-
5 Ambient Light (Artificial and Natural Light)
5 Artificial Light
5 Natural Light
Titles for each image
Post to your new Weebly Page Ambient Light
ARTIFICIAL AMBIENT light can be:
A flash light
A glow stick
A light stick
Something that lights up and can be seen in the dark
Someone else flashlight on their phone
It needs to be dark to take the Light Painting images
If you are the only one you might have to set it up with a tripod or makeshift one or use a mirror.
Phone Camera Set Up (video below as well)
- Download Slow Shutter Fast Cam App (Free) or Slow Shutter Cam ($1.99)
- Use tripod or set phone on steady surface
- Shoot in low light (the darker the better)
- Use slow shutter speed (3 seconds or longer)
- Determine where edges of camera view are and try to use entire space to get strong compositions
- Experiment with different kinds of light
- Move body constantly and wear dark clothing for it to completely disappear
DSLR Camera Set Up
- Set camera to Manual Mode (M) with manual focus
- Use tripod
- Shoot in low light (the darker the better)
- Set small aperture (F16 or higher)
- Use slow shutter speed (3” or longer)
- Determine where edges of camera view are and try to use entire space to get strong compositions
- Experiment with different kinds of light
- Move body constantly and wear dark clothing for it to completely disappear
Lightroom on your phone:
https://fstoppers.com/apps/adobe-lightroom-cc-mobile-long-exposure-serious-creative-potential-300534