Lighting Fundamentals Quiz

Lighting from directly above is rare in nature, mimicking a large diffuse light source, making it a realistic and unconventional lighting technique.

Lighting from directly below is extremely unusual, creating an eerie and unnatural effect.

The shaded areas on a surface where a light source cannot reach

The shadow projected by an object onto a surface when it comes between the light source and the surface.

Light that indirectly illuminates shadows, adding detail and depth.

The dividing line between light and shadow on a surface.

Shadows are illuminated by secondary or reflected light sources, influencing their color.

Light that adds detail and depth to shadows, usually coming from a larger source.

The dominant light source in a scene, defining the main illumination and shadows. It could be the sun, a window, or a ceiling light.

A light placed behind the subject that creates a bright line around its edges, separating it from the background and highlighting its contours.

A lighting technique using three lights: key light, fill light, and rim light, to create a balanced and well-lit scene.

Lighting where the light source is directly behind the observer, illuminating the subject from the front.

The color cast of a light source, which can affect the perceived color of objects illuminated by it. Examples include the blue cast of sunlight or the green cast of fluorescent light.

A change in the color of light as it travels through the atmosphere, often resulting in a warm or reddish hue during sunset.

The direction from which light illuminates a subject, influencing the appearance of shadows and the overall mood of the scene.

The effect of light bouncing off a surface, illuminating other objects with that color.

When light hits a surface, it's either reflected or absorbed depending on the color. White reflects all colors, black absorbs all.

The phenomenon where the color of adjacent objects influences each other due to bounced light.

Light bouncing between objects of the same color, intensifying and making the color appear brighter.

Most light sources have a color cast, but our brains filter it out, interpreting the light as white.

A camera setting that accurately captures the colors in a scene, unlike our brains that adjust to perceived 'white'.

The perceived color of an object is relative to the surrounding environment and light source.

A situation where the light source's actual color can be observed when not directly under it, like in open shade.

Light from the sun is a mix of different colors, like the rainbow, which together create white light.

The scattering of light by particles in the atmosphere, causing shorter wavelengths like blue to be scattered more.

The base of a cast shadow is very dark due to the lack of direct sunlight and limited skylight and bounced light.

The other end of a cast shadow receives more light from the sky and bounced light from the object, making it lighter.

The visible light spectrum is composed of photons with different wavelengths, resulting in different colors.

Different wavelengths of light interact differently with the atmosphere, causing scattering and creating the blue sky.

Lights the subject from the side, emphasizes form and texture with pronounced shadows.

Shines from behind the subject, creating silhouettes and rim lights.

Comes from directly above the subject, casting distinct shadows and often hiding facial features.

A type of front lighting, it uses diffused light source, making the light softer and less harsh. Helps to hide imperfections on the subjects.

A side lighting technique utilizing hard, direct light, creating strong shadows.

A back-lighting technique where the light source is at a slight angle, creating a rim of light around the subject.

A backlighting technique that emphasizes transparency, transluceny and texture along the edge of the subject.

Shadows rarely appear completely black; they typically contain some light and color, usually soft and muted. This is because even in strong sunlight, there is always some diffuse light illuminating the shadowed side of an object.

Form shadows emphasize the shape and depth of an object, especially when light comes from the side. They enhance the sense of solidity and reveal surface texture.

The absence of form shadows can make an image appear flat and lacking depth. This is why frontal lighting often results in a less three-dimensional appearance.

Ambient occlusion simulates the dimming of surfaces due to the proximity of other objects. It creates a sense of depth and solidity by simulating the effect of a large, diffuse light source.

The size and distance of a light source determine the sharpness of shadows. A small or distant light source creates hard-edged shadows, while a large or close light source produces soft-edged shadows.

The primary way we perceive forms in diffuse lighting is through ambient occlusion. Objects closer to each other experience reduced light from the environment, resulting in darker surfaces.

The amount of environmental light reaching an area decreases as more obstacles block its path. Consequently, shadows become darker as the number of obstructions increases.