Natural light vs. Artificial Light: Which Is Better for Photography and Normal Lighting?

FACTS CHECKED BY  Bob Smith

The debate between natural and artificial light is almost never-ending, especially in photographing circles. However, you might also have been fazed by whether to use artificial or natural light for your house lighting. In this article, we’ll demystify between the two to assist you in choosing the best light sources for a particular task. Read on for more insight into natural light vs. artificial light.

What Is Natural Light?

Natural Light from the Sun

Natural Light from the Sun

Natural lighting is any light from a natural source like the midday sun. Hence, no matter the intensity of natural sunlight, any light from the sun at any time qualifies as natural. 

Also, shooting photos under natural lighting doesn’t have to be necessary during the day. You can also shoot under the moon, which qualifies as natural light. But this is only as long as there’s no additional artificial light source. 

What Is Artificial Light?

Artificial Light Sources

Artificial Light Sources

Any ambient light from sources other than the sun or moon qualifies as artificial lighting. Artificial sources of light include the following: 

For photography, you don’t have to use natural or artificial light in exclusivity.  Depending on the prevailing condition, you can take photos in natural light and add external light to the fray. 

Natural Light vs. Artificial Light: Pros

Illuminating a room via Natural Light

Illuminating a room via Natural Light

Benefits of using natural light

  1. Direct sunlight is free, and natural lighting is available at all times of the day. Remember, all non-artificial visible light (whether from the sun or moon) is natural. 
  2. Also, this type of lighting doesn’t cause eye strain, and while using it, you’ll spend less on electricity costs. 
  3. Bright light from natural sources can also boost overall mood, health, and productivity. 
  4. Moreover, using good natural light levels improves color tone and skin health. Thus, it is arguably the best light in photography.
  5. Moreover, you can photograph far objects at any period under natural sources. Conversely, for artificial lighting sources, you must have a light source near the subject. 
  6. Lastly, a natural light photographer can take photographs of a broad subject, such as a landscape. Again, this is impossible under artificial lighting, as the light source must illuminate the entire area.  

Benefits of using artificial light

An Artificial Lighting Setup

An Artificial Lighting Setup

  1. It allows you to take photos at any time of day, wherever you want. 
  2. Secondly, artificial lighting allows professional photographers to control the brightness levels depending on the ambient light intensity. 
  3. Besides, with an artificial type of light, you don’t have to postpone photoshoots because of prevailing weather. You can recreate your desired conditions using diffusers, umbrellas, and softboxes
  4. Again, you can alter the moods and appeal of an interior space that lacks windows with artificial lighting. 

Natural Light vs. Artificial Light: Cons

Cons of using natural light

Natural light is free, but its availability is weather-dependent.

Natural light is free, but its availability is weather-dependent.

  1. First, it denies you control of light intensities as it depends on the day’s weather. It can be a problem for beginner photographers. 
  2. Also, relying on it can waste time waiting for particular light levels to take your desired shot. 
  3. Besides, natural lighting can be a nightmare when taking photographs. When it hits a shiny object, it reflects on the photographer, which is annoying. 
  4. Using natural lighting for room illumination over an extended time can destroy furniture, rugs, artwork colors, and fabric quality.
  5. Lastly, depending on natural sunlight to warm rooms can balloon the cooling costs as sometimes the sun can be heavily intense. 

Cons of using artificial light

An artificial lighting photography set is expensive. 

An artificial lighting photography set is expensive. 

  1. Artificial lighting is expensive compared to natural light. An artificial light photographer must invest in quality light setups, which costs quite a lot. 
  2. It would help if you also were artificial lighting savvy to use it. You must know camera positioning and how to create the appropriate setup. 
  3. Besides, it is technically involved and cumbersome as you must keep creating a new setting as you move from one setup to the other. 
  4. While artificial light avails many control options, it doesn’t facilitate photographing an extensive array of subjects, such as a landscape. Also, it’s virtually impossible to use artificial lighting exclusively to photograph an architectural design as a skyscraper. 
  5. In addition, using artificial lighting in the house can impact sleep patterns. Artificial light can prompt sleep disturbances and nocturnal sleep. Both are unhealthy. 
  6. Lastly, light bulbs can also have traces of UV and IR light, thus leading to inconsistent lighting wavelengths. Consequently, this results in varying lighting intensities. 

Natural Light vs. Artificial Light: When to Use Natural or Artificial Lighting?

Natural Lighting

Natural Lighting

As highlighted above, both types of light have their respective advantages and limitations. Hence, there’s none that we can deem exclusively to be superior over the other. 

However, there are specific scenarios where each type of light is better. 

When to use natural light?

Natural Light is important for wildlife photography

Natural Light is important for wildlife photography

Natural light is a viable lighting option if you have the following prevailing conditions: 

  1. When you are patient enough to depend on the weather and the changing light intensities over the day. 
  2. Also, when you don’t want to spend on lighting studio equipment or if you’re operating on a lean budget. 
  3. Besides, you’re shooting in different locations (or while traveling). 
  4. In addition, when shooting images of large areas that you can not illuminate sufficiently with artificial light, such as landscapes. 
  5. Lastly, when photographing unapproachable subjects. For instance, when taking pictures of wildlife in a park. 

When to use artificial light?

A studio photography setup

A studio photography setup

The fundamental condition of using this kind of light is that you must be savvy in setting up the shooting scene. Again, choosing to use artificial light will depend on the following scenarios: 

  1. You need an artificial source if you want total control over your lighting. 
  2. Also, when you’re ready to spend on studio equipment and intend to shoot at any time of day. 
  3. Moreover, it’s applicable when photographing approachable subjects like posed portraits. 
  4. Finally, use artificial lighting as long as you’re ready to haul the entire photographing attire from one location to another. 

Can LED Replace Natural Lighting?

Natural lighting

Natural lighting

No known artificial light source (LEDs included) can sufficiently replace natural light. Nonetheless, some LEDs can give a color temperature similar to the sun. Remember that natural sunlight access can positively impact one’s health and mood. 

Therefore, using LEDs with similar qualities to the sun can effectively replicate the effect of natural lighting. 

For instance, some LEDs can give daylight white light. The light has a high color temperature light between 5000 – 6500 K. Also, like the sunlight, daylight white features high blue light content.

Hence, this light allows bright office lighting and can be a viable alternative to natural light. 

Summary

In a nutshell, the quality of photography will rely on the overall light levels. Natural light is a good option as it’s bright and readily available. However, its quality depends on the time of day, limiting your control options. The alternative is an artificial lighting setup that is easy to manipulate yet expensive. Hence, depending on your need, prevailing weather conditions, and budget, you can choose either. 

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