Studio photographers rely on artificial light for their lighting needs. They have all sorts of artificial light sources in their studio kit, where the standard types are set up in the studio and the special ones are used only when needed. The four most commonly used artificial light sources in studio photography are the following:
Flash - Flash is the term used for artificial lighting tools that produce high intensity and short duration light. Flash is not a continuous light since the light it emits could reach only short distances. It is balanced to daylight to achieve correct colour tone.
AC Discharge Lamp - This type of lighting tool emits less heat compared to tungsten. But like tungsten, it has very high output. The light it emits is not continuous and it will generate correct colour when balanced to daylight. AC discharge lamps are mostly used in the TV and movie industry.
Tungsten-halogen - It is the most commonly used artificial light, next to tungsten. Heat plays an important role in producing this type of light. This is why among the artificial light sources, it is the one that heats up so easily. It is durable because it can fight discolouration even after several years of usage. It will render correct colour when balanced to tungsten.
Photoflood - The design of this type of artificial light is similar to typical domestic lamps. It doesn't require colour correction and the type of light it produces is balanced to tungsten. After several years of usage discolouration could manifest around the glass surrounding the element. If that happens, an orange colour cast will be evident especially when balanced to daylight. This can be rectified either by using a blue filter or by capturing as a raw file and correcting it in post production. Photoflood is used to create a broad soft light source.
Light meter is also an essential studio photography lighting equipment. Without it, photographers will find it difficult to know the relationship between light ratios and exposure. For this reason, light meter is considered as the most important equipment (next to camera) a photographer will own.
Flash - Flash is the term used for artificial lighting tools that produce high intensity and short duration light. Flash is not a continuous light since the light it emits could reach only short distances. It is balanced to daylight to achieve correct colour tone.
AC Discharge Lamp - This type of lighting tool emits less heat compared to tungsten. But like tungsten, it has very high output. The light it emits is not continuous and it will generate correct colour when balanced to daylight. AC discharge lamps are mostly used in the TV and movie industry.
Tungsten-halogen - It is the most commonly used artificial light, next to tungsten. Heat plays an important role in producing this type of light. This is why among the artificial light sources, it is the one that heats up so easily. It is durable because it can fight discolouration even after several years of usage. It will render correct colour when balanced to tungsten.
Photoflood - The design of this type of artificial light is similar to typical domestic lamps. It doesn't require colour correction and the type of light it produces is balanced to tungsten. After several years of usage discolouration could manifest around the glass surrounding the element. If that happens, an orange colour cast will be evident especially when balanced to daylight. This can be rectified either by using a blue filter or by capturing as a raw file and correcting it in post production. Photoflood is used to create a broad soft light source.
Light meter is also an essential studio photography lighting equipment. Without it, photographers will find it difficult to know the relationship between light ratios and exposure. For this reason, light meter is considered as the most important equipment (next to camera) a photographer will own.
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