The Inverse Square Law for Photographers. A visual approach to the Inverse Square Law of Light
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Every photographer needs to learn the inverse square law of light if they want to be able to consistently create great photos. The inverse square law teaches us the physics of how fast light falls off and how far it spreads as the distance from the light source increases.
Most lighting tutorials about the inverse square law for photography start out with the MATH - even though most of them admit that you really don't need to know the math. If you've watched many of my videos you frequently hear me talk about not using four letter words! AUTO - RULE - POSE - FILM, well MATH is a four letter word so DON'T use it!
Light intensity or brightness drops much faster - closer to the source than it does further away from the source. It also means that the closer your subject is to your light source - the harsher the shadows and the quicker the light will dissipate. The further your subject is from the light source the dimmer the light will be, but the shadows will be softer and the light will spread over a larger area.
Understanding the inverse square law of light is essential for any photographer.
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Awesome as always! I love the way you simplified it with real world examples instead of just illustrations.
Thank you Martin Thomas! I really appreciate the kind words!
Hi Joe, you are an amazing teacher. One thing I love that you always say, get out there and practice. It's so true... you can watch tutorial until the cows come home, but you gotta get out there and practice - then it finally, truly sinks in. Thanks for this tutorial Joe.
You're very welcome BakeLikeAPro! Thank you so much for the kind words!
With a portrait it is critical that you properly expose the brightest diffuse highlight, which is usually on the face. You then control the darkness of the shadows with the distance of the main light, feathering the main light, using a reflector, or using fill lighting.
As you move a diffuse light closer to the subject it becomes relatively larger and the light becomes softer, which means the edges of the shadows become fuzzier. The amount of light fall off across the subject also becomes larger (the inverse square law in action). As the amount of fall of increases the ratio between the brightest diffuse highlight and the shadows increases, i.e. the shadows get darker vs the highlight. If you get too close the shadows become pure black without any details in the image when you properly expose for the diffuse highlight. This is when you break out the reflector or fill light.
The light get harder as it becomes relatively smaller, which is what happens as it is moved away from the subject. What that means is that the edges of the shadows cast by the light become sharper. The Sun, which has a diameter of 864,938 miles (1.392 million km), is so far away from the much smaller Earth, 24,900 miles (40,070 km), that it appears to be relatively small so it casts sharp edged shadows.
The light also becomes flatter with distance, which means that the difference in the amount of light light fall off, i.e. the amount of light on the near side of the subject vs the far side of the subject (or the background), becomes smaller. The sun, for example, is so far away at an average of 92,955,807 miles (149,597,870,700 meters), that you and a mountain 20 miles away are receiving identical amounts of light.
Joe saying the shadows became softer as he backs his diffuse light away is confusing. What Joe should have said is that the difference in brightness between the near and far sides of the subject becomes smaller. The reason the light appeared to become softer and created fuzzy subject shadows on the background when Joe backed the light away from the subject was all the stray light bouncing off the ceiling and walls of his small studio.
All your material is so great that there are no words to express how grateful am I...
Your channel and information that you provide as for starting, amateur photographer aspiring to be something more, priceless, thank you
You're very welcome playinthroulife! Thank you so much for the kind words!
I think I've watched this video 3 times now in less than 2 months and every time I pick up a little something extra. It's totally transformed how I think about lighting shots in a studio. Definitely a must watch.
Awesome Mitch Morgan! Thanks for commenting!
Mr. Edelman, you are the best photography educator on RUclips
Thank you so much for the kind words Savas Ugurlu!
I somewhat understood the Inverse Square Law but you have made it much easier to understand it with your visuals. Thanks again Joe Edelman.
Awesome Chris Canela! I am glad it helped!!
Excellent explanation, great work as usual Joe!
Thank you Jack Cheung! I really appreciate the kind words!
Man! Joe, that was the best video on the inverse square law that I could clearly understand and remember. I am your pupil for life. Thank you for sharing all your wisdom, I'm sharing this with my photography pals as well.
Thank you so much ChaChaChávez for the kind words. I appreciate you sharing the video - thanks for the support!
G'day & Thank you Joe for going to so much trouble with not only your words but also the graphics. You have made this so easy to understand, like all your videos.
Hooroo,
Brendan from Australia.
The best video explaining the inverse square law for photography on RUclips. Thank you.
I have watched a lot of videos about inverse square law but yours is the best!
Great explanation from great photographer
Thank you
You're very welcome Saad Al Hamady! Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you so much, Joe. You're definitely one of the best professors ever at RUclips University.
Thank Joe! Another great high quality video.
Glad you enjoyed it Anthony Williams! Thanks for the kind words!
Hi Joe, This is the best tutorial of the inverse square law that I have seen, and I have seen a lot. Karl Taylor is good but he can learn a lot about teaching from you. The amazing thing about you is that your videos are on point and the viewer does not have to waste valuable time listening to rambling talk. Keep it up.
Dude... Your transformation from 2010 to now is insane
Thank you Zachary O'Donnell! I appreciate the comment!
No problem. You wouldn't believe it, but i work in Philadelphia and just met Katy Rogers(the one on your instagram) in my shop today! We had a great conservation about camera's!
So excellent, Joe. Love these graphics and how you present the info. You know this already, but you just gave a big boost of confidence to thousands of photographers. Inverse square law is the same thing that tripped up Tesla when he thought he could "transmit" electrical power through the air and failed, but stumbled upon an important radio principle. Also, I loved the Hitchcock homage to two different movies when you ducked from The Birds, while playing the screeching violins from the shower scene in Psycho.
I appreciate your kind words and comments Black Dot!
Your passion makes drew me to your channel, your knowledge kept me here, your way of passing your knowledge on keeps me coming back.
I really appreciate the kind words Mark Harris! Thank you for your support!
Big help for me! Thanks, Joe!
Awesome Larry Nevins! Thanks for commenting!
you're the very best Joe!👍
Andrea
Thank you pirate9882!
Mr Edelman, you're a great teacher. Thank you. Can't wait for your depth-of-field video.
Thank you so much Muhammad Sahl! I appreciate it!
Outstanding information.Thanks Joe
You're very welcome Abel Ojeda! I am glad you enjoyed it!
thanks . I really appreciate how you make everything easy to understand
Thank you alex casares! I really appreciate the kind words!
quite simply the best explanations on RUclips for photography.
Thank you Karl Bertyn! I really appreciate the kind words!
Awesome video! Your tutorials are the best in existence. I always feel educated and excited to practice whatever your tutorials teach.
I appreciate your kind words and comments Andin Briwel!
Thanks Joe! - Needed this today!
Awesome Chris Carter! Thanks for commenting!
holy, this video provided me an epiphany. Up to this point i have always placed my lightsource/octobox nice and close to my subject, but never really considered it until this video. i just always thought the bigger the light source, the softer the light. this was an education. thank you :)
thank you Joe! I have been waiting for this and of course you delivered! so simple and easy to follow as usual.
You're very welcome Cassandra Woof! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Thanks for making this fundamental knowledge so concrete for us to see! Finally knew what our teacher was trying to say all this time.
Glad you enjoyed it Tiffany Yeh! Thanks for the kind words!
Your explanation of the inverse square law was very simple and easy to understand. Thank you. Sree Lakshmi from India
Another great video Joe with an excellent, clear breakdown given in a practical manner which provides a solid base for us to work on. Thank you young man 👌
You're very welcome Martin Heathcote! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Thank you for simplifying the inverse square law, i am a visual learner and if you explain this just by talking with no visuals i would not fully understand it.....thank you for sharing your knowledge! Your videos and you will be a part of my journey in photography....thank you so much.
hi Joe, thats a great and easy way to understand the inverse square law and i am applying it on my photography thanks 2u. All the best Joe.
...I must be some sort of stupid because for years now I've thought that lights that are larger _and_ closer are softer than when it's farther away...
Considering I'm gonna be shooting those ever daunting (for me) group family shots during a wedding, this simplification and visual demonstration is absolutely INDISPENSABLE!
GOD BLESS YOU, sir, you are a LIFESAVER!
All good things in moderation Michael Maddox-France... it isn't wrong to think that are larger modifier - closer - is softer... HOWEVER for shooting portraits and the like - you don't really ned massive modifiers and when you get them too close you run afoul of the Inverse Square Law and wind up with some parts of the body brighter than others.
Yes, that is correct in terms of "shadow hardness". Small light sources (which light source moved away relatively becomes) produce larger deep shadows (a.k.a "umbra") and smaller soft shadows (a.k.a "penumbra"). And large light sources (which same light source relatively becomes when moved closer) produce smaller deep shadows and larger soft shadows.
The net result is softer shadows for a light source that is relatively bigger (in our case closer since we assume same modifier/flash gun/strobe...). BUT, you have a more pronounced drop-off/higher contrast from closer to further away parts of interest, which is actually what this video talks about and is a product of inverse square law (for example light facing part of model vs. back of the head.)
Now that was the best. Well done.
Thank you! ZIPVON Glad you enjoyed it!
By far the best explanation of this i've seen. I've learned so much in this one video, thanks a bunch Joe!
Glad you enjoyed it KoenigF50! I appreciate the comment!
Awesome! Inverse square law, as important as it is, both never made sense to me, & always intimidated me. This simple breakdown sure helped make my life easier, & took some of that headache away! BEST
Glad you enjoyed it richard mendoza! I appreciate the comment!
Good stuff always something to learn and am glad no nikons were hurt in the process 🙈
LOL - The Nikons survived devdas Devdas! I did break an egg before I switched to the plastic ones!
Thank you so much for doing this, Joe. You've just made all the other videos on the subject obsolete. So well thought out and presented. I continue to learn so much from you.
I love your videos and I learning a lot. Thank you Joe!
You're very welcome Mary Bolton CR and THANKS for subscribing - great to have you along for the ride!
Excellent explanation..!, In just a few minutes you have significantly increased my knowledge of lighting.
Thanks Joe..!,, .. and G' day from Melbourne..!
G'day Philip Pettigrew! You are very welcome! Thanks for commenting!
Credit where it's due, this is hands down the very best video that I have ever seen on learning the basic concept and practical implications of the inverse square law.
If this video gets what it deserves we will look up one day to see 500,000 views and thousands of likes (or more) as there really isn't a better one out there anywhere. Congratulations on tackling such a potentially confusing subject matter and somehow nailing it perfectly.
Oh wow! You have Spanish subtitles!. Impresionante. I will tell about your channel to friends that don’t have good enough english to just follow the talk. Thank you!
You have no idea how this video helped me. This was perfect. Thank you very very much.
Glad you enjoyed it computerjantje! Thanks for the kind words!
Excellent tutorial, so much easier to understand when you can see simulated examples 😃
Glad you enjoyed it dunnymonster! I appreciate the comment!
MASSIVE RESPECT as ALWAYS.
Thank you rez ones!
Thanks for simplifying this - makes sense.
that's not "helpful" .
that's SUPER HELPFUL .
thanks a lot joe , as always , you're awesome .
lol - thank you so much wassim al-malak!
Joe, this is a fantastic explanation of the ISL! I have shared this with some people who could REALLY benefit from it, in the photo booth industry :)
Awesome Michael Gara - thank you so much!
On Joe's advice I bought the software (set.a.light 3d) used in this video, really helps to just fiddle about with this topic and drive it home. As always Joe, a tricky topic explained in a down to earth way.
Glad you are enjoying the software Graham Culleton! Thank you for the kind words!
you don't know how gratefull I am for this, my best wishes and a beautiful life
Great video. Every photographer should be required to watch this before they could purchase a camera.
Thank you Lawrence Keeney!
I learn something every time I watch your videos Joe, thank you... Thumbs up
Awesome safeharbor7! I am glad to hear it!
Great job on the video Joe. Really enjoyed it! = )
Thank you Donna Couture!
Joe, you're the man! Brilliant video!
Glad you enjoyed it Everton Bolton! I appreciate the comment!
You are the best Joe!
I really liked your summarized tips: Light CLOSE for sharper shadows, bigger catch-lights and darker backgrounds. Light FAR for softer shadows, smaller catch-lights and brighter backgrounds. When lighting two or more people or need to cover a bigger area - back the lights up.
Thanks for using the metric system. A tutorial on "why you need/ needn't a lightmeter and how to use it etc ..." should be useful. Never used one, maybe I should ?
You're welcome thomas palmer! When you get into advanced lighting - light meters help you maintain better control. I am sure there will a light meter video down the road.
You're the best Joe!
Большое спасибо за этот урок. Я думаю что многие фотограф с длительным опытом работы , совершают такие ошибки. Я очень благодарен тебе за твою работу! Еще раз большое спасибо, Удачи!
Добро пожаловать Vladimir Belousov! Спасибо за добрые слова и поддержку!
Amazing video Joe! Extremely helpful.
Thank you Omir Velazquez! I really appreciate the kind words!
So much to learn, was going to ask "can you make a video on rim lighting?" but now after watching this video, I am excieted to try it myself, if I fail consistently then will request you to make a video on rim lightning.
Glad you enjoyed it Amit Krupal! I appreciate the comment!
Joe Great Video, Keep up the Great Work. Can't wait to see more of your Tutorials and Awesome Tips n Tricks
Thank you supernova031404! I really appreciate the kind words!
Great video. Awesome explanation. Thanks for posting and sharing. I am a subscriber now 👌👌👌
Thanks Joe!
You're welcome CanadianSaurusRex! Thanks for commenting!
After several months of watching your videos, I've learned many things. As you said in your last live chat, you see yourself primarily as a teacher. I would add that in some ways, you are as much a philosophy teacher as a photography teacher. One of those philosophies seems to be:
Follow the laws but break the rules.
Simple and informative. Thanks Joe.
You're very welcome gary geddes! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Great Job Joe! Finally sinking in!
Thanks Matthew Fry! Practice... makes perfect!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED YOUR VIDEO AND ALL OF THE THEM. FINALLY I UNDERSTOOD WELL HOW THIS LAW WORKS!!!!! THANX A LOT! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!
You're very welcome ferchu sk! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, the 3d models really helped. It all made sense except I had always been told a larger modifier would produce softer light and that being closer to the subject made a modifier bigger. I had thought that would result in softer light on the subject. this seems to show the opposite.
Thank you Michael Ricci! Your first sentence is correct. A larger modifier does produce softer light (provided that it is not placed too close to the subject) and being close to the subject does make the modifier bigger - in relationship to the subject - but it will also begin to make the shadows harsher when you get too close. In the video I am using the modifier at average distances. The mistake many make - which I do refer to is that they place the modifiers too close. Be sure to watch my next video coming out this weekend - it will make that difference a little clearer. I am going to show you how to use a shoot through umbrella to get the same kind of light that you get from a beauty dish - and its all thanks to the Inverse Square Law.
Thanks for the response, I think putting the modifier too close is a mistake that I have made in the past looking back now.
You're welcome Michael Ricci. Don't feel bad - any photographer that tells you they haven't made that mistake is either lying or has never worked with artificial lighting.
Fantastic. Thanks so much; your teaching is clear, precise, accurate, and concise.
Nice video Joe. Keep up the great work.
Thank you Lewis & Clarke Imagery!
Till now I though you need the light close to get softer shadows because it becomes a larger light source. And if you move it back it becomes a smaller light source and hence harsher shadows. Am confused
You and many others Tim Mark. YES - the larger the light source - the softer the light - however regardless of how big the light source is - if you get too close the shadows become harsh. "too close" means understanding the inverse square law and where the most rapid light fall of happens. If you avoid that - a larger light source is indeed softer.
I had the same questions as I found the statement of softness increasing with distance confusing as the apparent light source reduces with distance. I think I understand what you mean: when your subject is close to the light, and because of the rapid fall-off, the light will have a harsher wrapping effect around the rim of your subject. although I would not call these shadows.
Same here.
Thank you very much for your explanation.
Excellent explanation and useful tips for photographers. Thanks Joe.
Raymond Elias
Brilliant video, explained perfectly, thank you
Thank you Phill T! I really appreciate the kind words!
Thanks a lot for this video!!! Before it, the inverse square law was really something I did not wanna touch. Now I can dive into it and stop have excuses 😁
Now I understand better. Thank you.
I love this channel.
Glad you enjoyed it gnatinator! Be sure to follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/joeedelman - I post a lot of behind the scenes images and clips!
Thank you for the awesome explanation Joe :)
You're very welcome Renzor! I am glad you enjoyed it!
thank you joe!
You're very welcome Avi Sasson!
Thanks! that was helpful !
Glad you found it useful stef zlak! Thanks for commenting!
For one more time, thank you Joe!
Thanks for commenting Δημήτρης Δικμάνης!
Great video, simple and straight to the point.
a world of information. thank you
I learned a lot from this. Very well done. Thank you for this.
Awesome busyrand! You are very welcome!
Great job Joe. I'm doing my first group shot with a octobox next week so I'll be backing up that light :-)
Awesome iLightBox Photography! Good luck with your shoot!
Muy bien explicado y siempre acompañando de los resultados, realmente me ha ayudado a entender mucho mejor. Te ganaste un humilde suscriptor. Gracias por compartir conocimiento.
Gracias por las amables palabras de Yuri Cristian Cauna Robles y GRACIAS por suscribirse. ¡Es un placer tenerte en el viaje!
This is so useful and easy to understand! Thanks for sharing Joe
whoa Joe, you made this information so simple!!! thank you.
Great explanation as always Joe. A picture, as always is worth a thousand words! - anyone out there wanna buy a calculator???
LOL zaphod Noyb! Thanks for commenting!
Photography math: 16+1=11.
Easy to follow video with simple graphics. Thank you.
LOL - you got that MATH thing down Jim Boynton! Thanks for the kind words!
Love it, you have a great way of explaining everything.
Thank you Matthew Furman! I appreciate the kind words and support!
Just one thing to say, excellent tutorial!!
thank you Joe.. tried experimenting with these concepts you've explained. I was able to predict the result based on the information you've given in this video. I'm sure I'll be able to understand it better as I keep practicing with lights..
Amazing TUT. Tks u.
Good job Joe.
Thank you Miro Zilaji! I really appreciate the kind words!
That's the best explanation of the inverse square law. I have a question. What do you like more...smaller catch light or larger? What gives a more professional look?
Thank you Wahab Dilawar! Honestly I don't have a preference. You can see in my work that catchlight sizes vary dramatically. I just don't want them to be a distraction.
Excellent explanation.
I teach the inverse square law for radiation training and it can be a difficult thing for some to understand.
Thank you Trevor Baldwin! I really appreciate the kind words!