Ambient Light refers to any light in a given scene that isn’t artificial light, light supplied by the photographer. Sunlight, candlelight or light emanating from surrounding lamps can produce ambient light in a photograph.
In general, photographers use ambient light on or around an object to produce a certain mood or feeling for the resulting image. This subtle photographic technique is known in cinematic circles as low-key lighting.
Ambient Light
When taking a photograph of lights, for instance at Christmas time, experts suggest making the most of ambient light. Flash photography indoors can be harsh, overpowering the serenity and softness of a image. Consequently, rather than use flash, adding candles or incandescent lights can enhance the ambient lighting of a scene without overpowering it.
Another common manner in which ambient light creates a mood lies in the deliberate ways certain scenes are lit. For example, if a photographer wants to engender a creepy or haunting effect, he tends to use ambient light that comes from beneath the image, making it seem larger and, therefore more menacing.
However, if there is not a clear distinction between an image and its background, ambient light shouldn’t be the sole source of light for the photograph. In these cases, ambient light should be enhanced either th
