Light
A photograph is the image of a the pattern of light recorded on film or a sensor. The nature of light has a critical effect on the pictures we make. Few photographers actually understand much about light, but they are not alone, even scientists have never been able to agree fully about the nature of light. The answer to the question is light a wave or a particle is yes!
The word photography actually means writing or drawing with light. Without light there could be no vision or photography because it is reflected light from objects in the world around us that makes these objects visible to both our eyes and the sensor of the camera. Turn of the lights and we see nothing.
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiant energy to which our eyes are sensitive. Unless light is reflected or focused, it travels or radiates in all directions from the source like a cone, in other words as light travels from the source, its energy of light spreads out. The greater the distance it travels, the more it spreads out. Therefore, the amount of light reaching any given area at a given distance is less than that reaching the same area closer to the source. In other words, the intensity of illumination on a surface varies when the distance between the light source and the surface, or subject, is changed.
Light travels at tremendous speed from its source, such as the sun. It has an effect on the materials it falls on, skin becomes tanned, and fruit is ripened by the light of the sun. Depending on the way in which light is received or rejected, a complex pattern of light, shade, and colour results.
The wavelengths of light are so small that they are measured in nanometers (nm). A nanometer is equal to one millionth of a millimetre.
To the photographer, there are two important characteristics of the way light travels.
- First, in a given medium, light always travels in a straight line.
- Second, in a given medium, it travels at a constant speed.