THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW MADE SIMPLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
What Is The Inverse Square Law?
Light behaves differently based on how close or far it is from your subject. The Inverse Square Law explains how light intensity changes with distance. Here’s the rule:
Move the light closer, and it gets much brighter.
Move the light farther, and it gets much dimmer.
Why It Matters
Close Light: Brighter, more intense light that creates dramatic shadows.
Far Light: Dimmer, softer light that spreads evenly for a natural look.
Try It Yourself
Experiment with your own light setup. Move your light closer or farther from your subject and watch the dramatic changes unfold. It’s a small adjustment with a big impact!
Flashlight Demonstration: A Visual Guide to the Inverse Square Law
To help you understand how light behaves, let’s use a simple flashlight demonstration:
Image 1: Light Source close to the toy cat
In Image A, the flashlight is held close to the toy cat (flashlight is approximately 6 inches away from cat). Notice how the beam of light is bright and focused in a small area. This is because the light hasn’t had a chance to spread out yet.
Image 2: Light Source father away from the toy cat
In Image B, the flashlight is moved farther from the toy cat (flashlight is approximately 18 inches away from cat). Here, the light is dimmer and spreads over a much larger area. This happens because the light intensity decreases as the distance increases, just like the Inverse Square Law describes.
The Takeaway
The closer the light source, the brighter and more concentrated the light appears. As the distance increases, the light spreads out and loses intensity. Understanding this simple concept is a game-changer when working with artificial light in photography.
Quick Tip for Beginners
If your subject looks too dark, don’t rush to increase brightness. Instead, move the light source closer. This keeps your lighting soft and natural without harsh highlights.
Understanding the Inverse Square Law is one of the easiest ways to improve your lighting skills. Experiment with moving your light closer or farther from your subject, and watch how the brightness changes—it’s like magic!
As always, best of luck!
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