Understanding The Inverse Square Law of Light [Part 2]

How does the "Inverse Square Law of Light" affect your photography?

Understand more about the relation of lighting on your model relative to lighting on the background due to the inverse square law. Also, see how soft light becomes harder with distance from the subject.

Using both myself and our lovely model Sophie, I demonstrate and explain the theory in understandable terms. (See diagram at the end.)

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[bsrubio]

THIS is what these kinds of videos should be. Easy to understand, good examples, straightforward, and very useful stuff. Great job.

[stephenward]

Watching this 9 years later and this brief explanation was by far the most easy to comprehend.

[JeahnLaffitte]

8 years and still relevant because physics are timeless! 👏

[fotosynthesis]

Really amazing tutorial Mr Karal Taylor.

[MegalocefaloBill]

Great info! Only those who were trying to understand this Inverse square law in other channels here knows how simplified Karl made it! thanks keep it up ;)

[Skyfox]

It should also be pointed out (and is apparent in the two photos) that when the light is closer, the light falloff across the face is much more dramatic as compared to when the light is farther away and the falloff is much more gradual.  Great pair of videos!

[DPShopTalk]

Great simple explanation Karl. Very easy to understand, thanks for sharing.

[creepyloner]

much important info left out. like the fact that the larger your light source is, the less falloff you get  at shorter distances, and if you're using something like a large, tightly focused parabolic umbrella you can actually light a distant subject more brightly than a close subject.

[jlucianoc]

Fantástico! Suas dicas e explanações são simples e muito práticas. Perfeito para quem deseja entender mais sobre fotografia... Seu trabalho é inspirador!!!

[hse]

You should teach physics as well Karl. Very instructive, very well explained.

[cmwkfilmmaker]

Karl, I notice the lighting patterns is really different. I think that must me a factor that made the background darker because, the spotlight isn't on the background. By the way I agree about what you say in the video. Thanks for sharing.

[multiworse_]

Are you still exposure at mid gray no matter the changes in distance ?

[hawg]

Karl, what brand/model flash meter do you use?

[kjhanafin]

This is a very nice demo demo but your last slide is somewhat misleading (you subtracted but should have divided)

100%  ÷  25% = 4  and
6% ÷ 1.5% = 4  

... both cases the closer object would get 4x the light.  If you had the far pair 1 meter apart just like the close pair, you get:

6% / 4% = 1.5

... this is the smaller light falloff that your pictures show.   

[zvett]

Ignore the second graphic and the narration as it makes no sense. See Karl Hanafins comment for a good explanation.

[dslrvideomaking]

Another important  information  !!











 

[ucheucheuche]

Someone needs to change the laws of physics because that is some trippy sh**.

[kevinkall]

what this taken a year later. the girl has improved with age, or maybe its because she stays quiet