Discover what continuous light is in photography (and how to use it)

The continuous light It is, surely, the one we use the most when we start in the world of photography. Now, do you know how to use it correctly? Do you know what features it has or what is the best time of day to take advantage of its potential? We will see it in this article 😉 And if what you want is to delve into lighting in photography, we have this mega guide for you with tips, tricks, and inspiration.

What is continuous light in photography?

Continuous light is light from the sun or from a light bulb. That is to say, that light that, as its name says, is projected continuously. This can be artificial (the one that comes from the different types of light bulbs) or natural (the light of the sun or the moon).

It is the light that we surely use the most in our day to day and the one that we first learn to use. Let’s see some tricks to squeeze both natural and artificial continuous light, although we will focus on the latter, which is the objective of this article.

natural continuous light

Natural continuous light is that which comes from a natural source such as the sun, the stars or the moon. Learning to photograph with it means knowing how to master a large part of the images that you can get throughout your photographic career.

Natural continuous light has many advantage, its richness of tonalities, is available for free and does not take up space, for example. His only one drawback you can’t control it. You can only modify it with reflectors or diffusers, otherwise you have to adapt to it.

Tips for shooting in continuous natural light

Here are some tips for photographing with this type of lighting:

artificial continuous light

Continuous artificial light is the one that comes from a bulb of any type. Each type of bulb can have different characteristics both in terms of power and color. It is the easiest to use since it allows us to see the final result of the lighting live (not like the flash).

Characteristics of artificial continuous light

artificial continuous light it depends on the light bulb itself that illuminates the scene. Unlike flash, which is standard and provides white or neutral light, bulbs can be warm, cool, or neutral.

You should especially take into account the color temperature of the light you are using. If you use the lights you have at home, it is very possible that your photos take on an orange hue. Fluorescent type lights provide a greenish light.

To control color temperature it is important to shoot in RAW format. Doing so will allow you to correct the dominant key easily in an editor.

Types of artificial continuous light

• Tungsten bulb. They are the ones we have at home. At a photographic level, they are not very powerful and, as I have already mentioned, they project a warm or orange light on the scene.
• Halogen bulb. They are the evolution of tungsten bulbs with a little more power. They also add an orange tint to the image and give off quite a bit of heat.
• Energy saving light bulb. They are more efficient and concentrate less heat, but several need to be mounted together to have enough light power. The most popular are the spiral ones.
• Led lights. If you are going to invest in continuous light equipment, let it be LED. These types of lights are the most efficient, they hardly generate heat, they are small and light and can be found in different color temperatures.

Continuous lights recommended for photography

If you want to invest in a good light source, I leave you with several very interesting options.

LED spotlights

soft box

Light Cube

Tips for shooting with continuous light

For best results, keep the following things in mind:

• RAW photography.
• The white balance.
• Use a handheld light meter for the perfect exposure.
• The orientation of the light. Depending on the direction from which the light reaches the subject, you will obtain completely different results.
• The distance of the portrayed object based on the light source also influences the final result. It is what is known as the inverse square law, which affects the intensity of light (or quantity). It is a much easier concept to understand than it appears from its name, click on the link and you will discover it.
• Size relative to the subject, the smaller the light source relative to the subject, the harsher the light, and vice versa, the larger, the more diffuse.
• Light rings work great for portraits.

Continuous light or flash?

Do you have to choose between flash and continuous light? Over time, you will learn to play with both, even to combine them as they are perfectly complementary. For now, I present the advantages of each type of light.

Advantages of continuous light

• It is the one we know and, therefore, it is easier to use from the outset.
• We have homemade continuous light sources that can work for us to start with (keeping a close eye on white balance and heat 😉 ).
• You can see the result live before taking the photo.
• It allows you to make orientation changes, until you find the right result.

flash advantages

• Consume less.
• It has more power (and in smaller size).
• Use a neutral light.
• Does not overheat.

Have you considered the advantages of continuous artificial light? It is very interesting to learn to take advantage of it, both in its natural version and in its artificial version, since it is an easy light to find in all its versions and mastering it means knowing how to photograph a large number of possible moments 🙂 .

Before you go, I recommend that you take a look at the different photographic techniques that you can practice with it.

Do not forget to share this article if you think it is of interest to your friends or acquaintances who are photography enthusiasts 🙂 . Thank you very much and we’ll see you soon.