WORK IN MIXED LIGHTING

Overcome the challenges of scenes featuring both warm and cool light sources

When asked to define mixed source lighting, many of us may where instantly think of stage lighting. a variety of different-coloured gelled bulbs placed around the central stage cast a strong, multi-coloured theatrical illumination. However, mixed lighting almost always applies to a much wider spectrum of shooting conditions than expected, many of which can be fairly subtle.

In fact, we tend to encounter mixed light sources every day. If you go outside into the landscape then you will experience some form of mixed-colour lighting structure. Similarly, if you shoot an indoor portrait near a window, with natural light streaming in from one direction, then mixed lighting will impact the colour balance of your photos. Capture a product shot in a restaurant using only ambient lighting and you will still find more than one source impacting your subject.

In each of these situations, even if the main light source is clear, it's possible to underestimate the effect of reflected light. Under daylight, while the sun is by far the strongest and most obvious source, light will bounce throughout the scene, refracting and changing its properties. Then there's the effect of surface colour, which reflected light will also pick up and transfer to your subject.

It's for this reason that daylight landscapes often feature cool shadow areas, which must be controlled to prevent unnaturally saturated blue tones. Similarly, if left uncorrected, light streaming in through an open window will itself seem cool compared to light reflecting from warm-toned wallpaper in the room.