Lighting Analysis 1

As part of our studies into lighting and how it is crucial towards creating a realistic image, we were asked to analyze a group of images of our own choosing, stating what worked well within each image using the knowledge we learnt in the lecture.



Image 1 - Temple in the Jungle by lepyoshka

It is readily apparent in this image that the light source is coming down from above, possibly through a gap in the trees. We can tell also because a lot of the water is reflecting the blue light of sky as well as green from the foliage. However, this light is also being bounced elsewhere throughout the rest of the image, although the varying angles of the thick foliage mean that a lot of this bounced light is scattered, making the rest of the environment dark and gloomy. The scattering also seems to be caused by a mist, as suggested by the far background.



Image 2 - Achtorjah Mountain by FerdinandLadera

It is not easy to see at first where the light source lies within this image. However, deducing from the saturated lights and dark shadows created on the left side of the mountains, there appears to be a gap in the clouds through which intense sunlight is shining down on the mountainside. Or, perhaps, the light source is coming from the far back, through the gap in the mountains on the right side of the image. One can see distantly that a similar situation is happening where the front side of the mountain is being hit by the light, leaving the rest in shadow. However, due to the diffused light of the mist, this is not as easy to determine compared to the foreground. There are examples of some bounced light, most notably within the valley in the centre of the image, as the side of the rock is still visible even though - after determining the light source - it should be in shadow.



Image 3 - Concepting a medieval street by Gycinn

There is plenty of bounced light within this image. Even though there is a light source shining in from the right and the top of the image, a lot of the image is not directly influenced by the light, instead gaining shape from bounced light off of the various buildings. However, the bounced light can only reach so far, as various areas are left in deeper shadow, such as the shop door and the wall as it gets closer to the foreground. There are a few examples of the atmosphere itself reflecting directly off of some parts of the image, which is demonstrated by the blue tinges on the wood structure of the building on the right side of the foreground.



Image 4 - Winter Village by andreasrocha

There is no direct source of light in this image. All of the light is diffused, having to pass through the thick layer of clouds before it can reflect off of the houses below. This creates very soft, desaturated light which is very dim to the viewer. However, because of the way the clouds are lit up I would determine that this image is set in the early morning, just after sunrise. This is due to the intense shadows that are still there in places. These shadows are predominately facing toward the viewer, which is shown by the tower in the foreground on the right, where one side of the roof is less in value compared to the side which is facing towards the background and thus towards the sun's diffused light.



Image 5 - Resistance 3 Mines Pt 2 by dee-virus

In this image there are some prominent light sources, scattered throughout all of the image as lamps. It can also be determined that there is another lamp down below the floorboards of this level, as shown by the intense lights that leak through the floor and the hole. It is possible that the light source on the far right is from the sky and not the flame of the lights because it is much colder in colour, in contrast to the warm light that comes from the lamps. These lights create a myriad of shadows due to the beams in the mine blocking their light, being much darker and more intense due to the relative closeness and intensity of the light sources. There may also be some instances of bounced light towards the left side of the image as there are fewer light sources over there, yet it is still visible to the eye.



Image 6 - Fjord by SebastianWagner

The light source in this image is the sun, coming down from above but slightly to the left of the centre of the image. This is determined due to how the rocks are lit - the left side is in the light whilst the right side is casting a shadow across the water. Although this light source is not very intense because of the lack of intensity to the shadows. Due to the low angle that this image is viewed at, the Frenel effect is visible from the rocks being reflected off the water's surface. However, this reflected light is very diffuse and it is impossible to see the rocks in the water aside from their rough shape.