Light Sources

[Deb Wisker]

Hi everyone! I am relatively new to digital photography. I had been taking photos in the auto mode for about a year then took the leap into manual mode about a year and a half ago.
I am currently taking a full semester class in digital photography. We have a mid term today and one of the things we have to do is to list 4 sources of light in our environment.
Does that refer to sunlight, tungsten, flourescent and flash?
I can't remember the lecture, but that may have been when I was out with the flu....
Am I correct?
Thanks!

[Benji]

My best guess is sunlight, daylight, tungsten and flourescent as constant light sources and flash as the instantaneous source.

Benji

[natek313]

Originally Posted by Benji

My best guess is sunlight, daylight, tungsten and flourescent as constant light sources and flash as the instantaneous source.

Benji

I've never taken a formal photography class outside of one I took when I was in high school, but wouldn't sunlight and daylight be the same thing? If not, what's the reasoning for differentiating the two?

[i speak in math]

Originally Posted by natek313

I've never taken a formal photography class outside of one I took when I was in high school, but wouldn't sunlight and daylight be the same thing? If not, what's the reasoning for differentiating the two?

sunlight is directly from the sun. daylight is reflected light from surroundings during the day. If you are in direct sun, you are in sunlight. If you are in the shade, you are in daylight.

[ttosifa]

Originally Posted by Deb Wisker

I am currently taking a full semester class in digital photography. We have a mid term today and one of the things we have to do is to list 4 sources of light in our environment.
Does that refer to sunlight, tungsten, flourescent and flash?
I can't remember the lecture, but that may have been when I was out with the flu....
Am I correct?

This question makes no sense to me. If tungsten and fluorescent are acceptable, why not LED (e.g., in light painting), fire, xenon (car headlights), chemical reactions, radiation, etc.? Unless you are just asked to name just 4 out of many.

Here's another take that would've been closer to my first guess.

WikiAnswers - What are some example of light sources

[Benji]

Originally Posted by natek313

I've never taken a formal photography class outside of one I took when I was in high school, but wouldn't sunlight and daylight be the same thing? If not, what's the reasoning for differentiating the two?

Most people confuse the two but they are vastly different. Sunlight has a color temperature in Kelvin degrees of about 5300. It is very specular (hard) which means it leaves hard harsh shadows (hard edge transfer in the shadows.)

Daylight is the light found outdoors during the daytime that is not sunlight. We have daylight when we step into the shade, or when it is overcast or when a large cloud obstructs the direct sunshine and so forth. Daylight's color temperature varies but is always higher than 5300 degrees K sometimes as high as 10,000 K. Daylight is considerably softer which means the shadow edge transfer will have a soft edge.

The first image below was shot in direct sunlight, the second in daylight.

Benji

[Benji]

Originally Posted by ttosifa

This question makes no sense to me. If tungsten and fluorescent are acceptable, why not LED (e.g., in light painting), fire, xenon (car headlights), chemical reactions, radiation, etc.? Unless you are just asked to name just 4 out of many.

Here's another take that would've been closer to my first guess.

WikiAnswers - What are some example of light sources

As far as I know the companies that manufacture light sources for sale to photographic professionals are tungsten, flourescent and electronic flash. Fire, automobile headlamps, chemical reactions and radiation may be used, but I don't believe they are sold to professional photographers to be specifically used as photographic light sources. I'm not sure about LED.

Benji

[CiiVii]

The answers could be direct, ambient, reflected, _____. I don't know.... I didn't take the class!

[ttosifa]

Originally Posted by Benji

As far as I know the companies that manufacture light sources for sale to photographic professionals are tungsten, flourescent and electronic flash. Fire, automobile headlamps, chemical reactions and radiation may be used, but I don't believe they are sold to professional photographers to be specifically used as photographic light sources. I'm not sure about LED.

Benji

If one were concerned only about light sold to photography professionals, then another possible answer for 4 sources of light would be Adorama, B&H, Ritz, and Ebay.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by ttosifa

If one were concerned only about light sold to photography professionals, then another possible answer for 4 sources of light would be Adorama, B&H, Ritz, and Ebay.

LOL

Benji