Natural light in different conditions

[Tilling]

I'm looking for a book or web resource that would have good information on natural light in different conditions.
I'm technically-minded, so I'd like to know things like the proportions of light at 500nm vs. 700nm, 5 minutes after sunset at 40* N latitude in the summer--in clear sky, overcast, with a temperature inversion...
And I'd like to get some insight on what that means for taking pictures.
Any thoughts?

[queenbee288]

Me thinks thou thinkest too much.:lol:

[JeffreyG]

They say photography is both an art and a craft....but I think you are leaning way too far towards the craft side. And that comes from me, a real left brain engineer.

[poloman]

Those specific wave lengths and the proportions thereof?
I think you are going to have to measure it yourself.
Or....you might take a few photographs with the time?

[mattograph]

Oh..... a devotee of the inverse square law, I'll bet!

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-Introduction-Photographic-Lighting/dp/0240808193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218863268&sr=8-1

and

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218863313&sr=1-1

how about

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966250400/giftfella-20

[Mike R]

Capturing the Light by Peter Watson is a very detailed book. The subtitle is An inspirational and instructional guide to landscape photography but has a lot of good information

[PhotosGuy]

I'm looking for a book or web resource that would have good information on natural light in different conditions.
I'm technically-minded, so I'd like to know things like the proportions of light at 500nm vs. 700nm, 5 minutes after sunset at 40* N latitude in the summer--in clear sky, overcast, with a temperature inversion...
And I'd like to get some insight on what that means for taking pictures.
Any thoughts? If I understand you correctly, I think you're taking WB measurebating to another level? Would you try to make a sunset neutral? Remember, you're the judge. The "Correct" WB may not be the "Right" WB for a image.

If your question is about metering:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6118282&postcount=44

[mtnman]

I took a class on remote sensing and satellite imaging that got into some of that. Look for information on multispectral scanners, hyperspectral scanners, thematic mapper (Landsat), depression angle, incidence angle, reflectance values, and scattering as it affects contrast ratios. My text book was Remote Sensing, Principles and Interpretations by Floyd F. Sabins, a little dated now. Also, some general chemistry and physics books might help you. It all relates directly to photography. It really gets interesting when you get into the infrared bands beyond 700nm where you have CO2 and H2O absorption windows. But, I digress.

You can get a better understanding of white balance by studying blackbody radiation and Wien's Law.

Generally, the lower the angle and the more inversion you have, the more you will pick up particulates in the atmosphere that absorb and scatter the smaller wavelengths (UV, Blues, Greens), tending to leave your image heavy on reds. Think sunsets.

[Tilling]

Thanks to everyone for helpful suggestions.
I certainly am not interested in making sunsets neutral. :lol:
As far as taking pictures goes, I'd like to be able to see something (say a building) and think "Hey, I bet that would make a really great picture toward the end of sunset in the summer, when the light is coming a bit from the north." And since I do like the scientific side of things (I was going to be a physicist, but ended up working in statistics) it seems only natural to track down the actual info.
I've read "Understanding Exposure" and seen glimpses of "Light: Science and Magic" on Google Books (I figure on getting it soon enough). Will have to check out "Matters of Light & Depth" and "Capturing the Light".

About a month ago the night sky here was deep violet. Any idea why that happens? I'm in Baltimore and it was full moon (but the sky was violet all around, not just near the moon--and the daytime sky was regular blue).

[mattograph]

Thanks to everyone for helpful suggestions.
I certainly am not interested in making sunsets neutral. :lol:
As far as taking pictures goes, I'd like to be able to see something (say a building) and think "Hey, I bet that would make a really great picture toward the end of sunset in the summer, when the light is coming a bit from the north." And since I do like the scientific side of things (I was going to be a physicist, but ended up working in statistics) it seems only natural to track down the actual info.
I've read "Understanding Exposure" and seen glimpses of "Light: Science and Magic" on Google Books (I figure on getting it soon enough). Will have to check out "Matters of Light & Depth" and "Capturing the Light".

About a month ago the night sky here was deep violet. Any idea why that happens? I'm in Baltimore and it was full moon (but the sky was violet all around, not just near the moon--and the daytime sky was regular blue).

David Hobby had an evening shoot.

(too obscure?......)

[DrPablo]

Don't you trust yourself to recognize a good scene? Lighting is important, but so is subject. And recognize that by altering exposure you can make or break a scene regardless of the lighting. Sunsets need to be underexposed to have rich color. Sand and snow needs to be somewhat overexposed (as compared with typical refletive metering) to look bright. Etc.

[mtnman]

About a month ago the night sky here was deep violet. Any idea why that happens? I'm in Baltimore and it was full moon (but the sky was violet all around, not just near the moon--and the daytime sky was regular blue).

Blue/Violet light is especially susceptible to scatter by pollution and ozone. It's possible that some incoming blue/violet sunlight was being scattered and reflected around the curvature of the earth into the dark area where you were at, thus reaching your eye. The light reflecting off the moon works by the same principles, although those workings are much more complex because of the properties of the surface of the moon which reflect and absorb light . Some of the spectrum coming from the moon is missing because it's absorbed. It could also be northern lights.

Most of us are attracted to photography because of it's aesthetic value, and that kind of photography often results from shoot-from-the-hip intuition, but scientists can learn a lot about surfaces like rocks and vegetation and other things by studying how they interact with different isolated light wavelengths. That is how we knew a lot about the composition of the moon before we got there. It's not just about aesthetics.

Um, what was the question again? ;)

[poloman]

I think you should sell your camera and buy a spectroscope. :)