Outdoor photography lighting can simply make or break an image. Using it properly allows you to make more magical photography. It can enrich a moment, build the mood, and draw attention to where you want the viewer's attention. Although you can opt for natural lighting to make outdoor photography, we will talk about what artificial light, especially the continuous type, can be used to enhance outdoor photography and discuss some common questions. Let’s jump into the best light for outdoor photography.
Final images of using COLBOR CL60 for outdoor portrait photography
COLBOR CL60: Compact LED light ideal for outdoor night photography lighting
The COLBOR CL60 is a 65W LED light that can be used in outdoor shooting. It is a bi-color fixture to offer warm and cool lighting ranging from 2700K to 6500K. When used with the supplied reflector, it can create 19,665Lux of 5600K daylight lighting at a distance of 1m (lab date). This means it is bright enough to illuminate a low-light condition, especially if you are shooting at night.
The 550g lightweight design and multiple power options allow this LED light for outdoor photography to work well in on-location photography. You can carry it around without any burden and power it with V mount battery, PD power bank, or NP-F battery. The supplied Bowen-mount adapter makes it compatible with most modifiers so you can shape and direct it to create various lighting effects.
Specs
- CRI: 97+
- Color Temperature: 2700K-6500K (±200)
- Beam Angle: ≈∠120° Reflector ≈∠15°
- Illumination: 2,843Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 19,665Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)
- Dimension: 140*80*90mm (Light Base Not Included)
- Weight: Light: 550g; Light Base: 160g
Pros
- Compact and lightweight to carry about
- Flexible power supply
- Simple to use and quick to set up
Cons
- It is likely not to overpower the ambient light when taking outdoor photography in the middle of the day.
COLBOR CL60R: LED light for outdoor photography with full color options for creative photos
The COLBOR CL60R has similar features to the CL60 but is distinct with its RGB beads. This 65W RGB LED light can create up to 3,600,000 colors with adjustable hues and saturation. This allows you to get more creativity when taking photos outdoors. Its magenta and green adjustment function makes it simple to correct color cast, reducing the efforts of post-production. This function is also good for outdoor portrait photography. You can adjust it to a magenta tint for a better skin tone.
Specs
- CRI: 97+
- Color Temperature: 2700K-6500K (±200)
- Beam Angle: ≈∠120° Reflector ≈∠15°
- Illumination: 2,082Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 22,655Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)
- Dimension: 140*80*90mm (Light Base Not Included)
- Weight: Light: 550g; Light Base: 160g
Pro
- Full-color lighting options for creative outdoor photography
- Compact and lightweight to carry about
- Flexible power supply
- Simple to use and quick to set up
Cons
- May not be powerful enough to overpower bright natural light
COLBOR CL220: Powerful 220W LED constant light for outdoor photography lighting
The COLBOR CL220 is a 220W LED constant light for photography. When used with the supplied reflector, it can create 52,700Lux of 5600K lighting at 1m (lab date). This means that it can work well on a bright day to illuminate the subject. The Bowen mount and supplied NATO extension bar enable it to be used with most standard light modifiers and photography gears. It can be powered by a V-mount battery so you can use it flexibly without the limit of wall outlet.
Specs
- CRI: 97+
- Color Temperature: 2700K-6500K (±200)
- Beam Angle: ≈∠120° Reflector ≈∠45°
- Illumination: 9,430Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 52,700Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)
- Dimension: 212*128*219mm (Light Base Included)
- Weight: Light: 1570g (Light Base Included)
Pros
- Powerful enough
- Compatible with most of light modifiers
- Simple to use and quick to set up
Cons
- Two V mount batteries are required for full power output
FAQs about outdoor photography lighting
Why do you need artificial light for outdoor photography?
In most cases, outdoor photographers will use natural lighting since it will give the photos a natural look. This is especially true when you take outdoor pictures on a cloudy day when the harsh sunshine is naturally diffused by clouds. You can also get good illumination during golden and blue hours. However, the natural illumination is unpredictable and you may have a photo shoot in a place that lacks proper lighting conditions, such as low-light conditions and at night. In this case, artificial light is a good option to complement the poor illumination. Even if you photograph in daylight, you may wish to emphasize your subject with additional lighting on occasion.
It also brings the following benefits to outdoor photography lighting:
Equalize the exposure of the foreground and backdrop. If you want to capture a portrait with a bright sky in the background, for example, you may utilize artificial light to brighten the person while avoiding underexposure or overexposure.
Have more control over the lighting quality and direction. You can use it to generate soft or strong shadows, to emphasize certain features or textures, or to create a specific mood or ambiance.
Take outdoor photography at any time. For example, if natural light is insufficient or unavailable, you can utilize artificial light to photograph at night or in low-light conditions.
Experiment with various effects to get creative images. You can have light painting, create silhouettes, get color contrast, or any other creative effects in outdoor photography.
As an outdoor photographer, artificial light may provide you with more freedom and versatility if you know how to utilize it properly and effectively.
What lighting equipment for outdoor photography do you need?
A continuous light or flash can help a lot in outdoor photography. However, it may be not enough in most cases. You will need a light stand to hold it in place, a diffuser to shape the illumination, etc. Below we list some equipment that you can invest in for a better outdoor photo-shooting experience. Just choose among them according to your specific needs.
Light source
Strobes: Strobes are high-intensity flashes that may be activated remotely via a wireless transmitter or a sync cable. They can produce a flash of outdoor photography lighting to stop motion, balance ambient light, or generate dramatic effects.
Flashguns: These are tiny flashes that may be mounted to the hot shoe of a camera or used off-camera using a wireless trigger or a sync cable. They may also be used for fill, bounce, or creative lighting, however, they are less powerful and have shorter recycle durations than strobes.
Continuous light: These are lights that provide continuous lighting for outdoor photography rather than flashes. They're useful for video, macro, and low-light photography since they let you see the effect of the light before you take the image. Continuous lighting can be LED, fluorescent, or tungsten, with varying color temperatures, brightness levels, and beam angles.
Light stands
A light stand is a tripod used to support external lighting sources. Consider investing in a pair of lightweight but robust light stands if you want to manage the lighting of the scene. Rather than lighting a scene with a flash from the foreground, this allows you to deal with lighting at different directions.
Light modifiers for outdoor photography
Light modifiers are devices that can change the shape, size, direction, color, or quality of the light source to improve outdoor photography lighting. They have the ability to soften a harsh light source, focus light in a specific direction, and generate fascinating shadows and highlights. They come in a variety of forms and sizes, each designed to create a unique lighting effect. Softbox, umbrella, and reflector are common modifiers used in outdoor photography. And it is advised to look for modifiers that are lightweight, compact, and simple to set up.
Other accessories
All of the aforementioned are strongly advised for an on-location photoshoot. But don't forget to bring a bag to transport everything. It should be strong and reliable so that it does not tear unexpectedly. It's ideal if your backpack is designed for heavyweights and has robust exteriors to safeguard your equipment. You may also get some extra equipment and accessories in your lighting kits. This may be anything from an extra battery to a remote control to colorful gels.
How to get the best lighting for different types of outdoor photography?
The best lighting for outdoor photography varies by when, where, and what you are going to shoot. Different outdoor photography styles ask for different gears and lighting techniques for optimal illumination. In this part, we will offer some lighting tips for outdoor photography, separated down by style, so you can fully prepare for your next outside session.
Video tutorial: If you take outdoor portrait photography
Video by Leigh & Raymond Photography
In this video, the YouTuber Leigh & Raymond Photography tells how she uses COLBOR CL220 to get lighting for outdoor portrait photography. By powering the CL220 with a V mount battery and setting it at 45% power output, the CL220 can illuminate her face properly when she is in the shade of a tree. It helps a lot to balance out everything so that she won’t get an overexposure background in the final images. Just check to video to see how the light is placed and set.
If you have landscape photography
Golden hour is generally regarded as the best time to get outdoor photography lighting for taking landscape photography. This is the final hour before sunset or the hour right after sunrise. When the sun gets closer to the horizon, the light it emits is more diluted by the atmosphere. This offers softer, reddish light, which is perfect for taking visually appealing images. You'll probably see a variety of colors when the sun sets or rises. This gives a chance to capture eye-catching, bright pictures.
Of course, you don't have to wait until golden hour to take a beautiful landscape photograph. Shooting in the middle of the day might sometimes complement your artistic ambitions. You can create interesting pictures by using strong shadows. Alternatively, you might find techniques to reduce the intensity. Natural light will have a distinct effect on your images on cloudy or rainy days. It will give softer lighting with blue tones even in the middle of the day.
In short, you need to plan ahead when making use of natural light for outdoor photography. Go photo-shooting on a certain weather and time that can help achieve your creative vision.
If you take macro photography outdoor
Macro photography is a popular type of outdoor photography. It entails capturing incredibly close-up pictures of almost anything, however insects, flowers, and textures found in nature are frequently the subjects. Excellent macro shots frequently have rich colors, catching minute details of an otherwise tiny subject.
Outdoor photography lighting is crucial for taking small-scale photographs of anything. The sun will typically give enough light to properly illuminate your photo, depending on your lens and camera. Overcast days are a good time take macro photos when there is softer natural light.
It might be necessary to utilize a flash if you discover that there isn't enough light. Using the built-in camera flash is not recommended. Since these flashes aren't meant to work close. If possible, use an external flash and place it on one side of the camera, away from the subject.
A powerful flash may drive away an insect if you're photographing it. If you simply need a bit of additional light, you might be able to get by with just a reflector. Holding a silver reflector beneath your subject in the light will allow you to include more reflected natural light in the photo.