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SUN HIGH IN THE SKY

Natural light is at its simplest if the sun is high in a cloudless sky. In the absence of clouds, the light conditions are for most of the day predictable.

The high sun around noon is called the "standard daylight". Typically, a high sun (45-90 degrees above the horizon) weakens the light effects. A flat, horizontal subject - such as a flat landscape - can look boring because of the minimal visible shadows. The high contrast between exposed parts and shadows can also lead to an over-or under-exposed (too light or too dark) photo.

This light is not the most suitable for photography, because the colors of the subject are less attractive than by a lower sun position. However if there are some cumulonimbus present, the scene will be lot more interesting. The photos taken during a high solar position on cloudless sky (or cumulonimbus sky) are clear and sharp.

High sun position is very suitable for a beginning photographer to practice the composition rules, using the fully automatic setting, without thinking about the light conditions.

Case study: position of the sun

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