Outdoors, the light changes with the weather. On a clear day the sun is bright and harsh. Step into the shade of a building and the light becomes soft and gentle. When clouds cover the sky, the whole scene turns soft and even. Each of these three conditions, direct sun, open shade and overcast, gives a completely different look. Knowing what each one does, and how to find the right one, is one of the most practical lighting skills you can learn.
Three everyday outdoor conditions
| Direct sun | Open shade | Overcast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light source | The sun, a small bright point in the sky | The open sky, while the sun is blocked | The whole cloud layer |
| Quality | Hard | Soft | Very soft |
| Contrast | High | Medium to low | Low |
| Shadows | Dark and sharp | Gentle, with direction from the open sky | Very light, almost no direction |
| Color | Neutral to warm (depends on time) | Often cooler, bluish | Often slightly cool and muted |
| Good for | Drama, texture, bold color, graphic shadows | Portraits, people, products outdoors | Portraits, forests, waterfalls, flowers, details |
The reason for these differences is the apparent size of the light source, which you learned in hard light and soft light: the sun is small in the sky, the open sky is large, and a cloud layer is enormous.
Direct sunlight
Direct sun gives bright, hard, contrasty light. At midday it also comes from above, creating the top-light problems you saw in front, side, back, top and low-angle light. Many photographers avoid it for portraits, but it is excellent for:
- Strong graphic shapes and shadows in street and architecture.
- Bright, saturated colors on sunny days.
- Texture when the sun is lower and grazes surfaces.
If you must photograph people in direct sun, turn them so the sun is behind them as backlight, find shade, or soften the light with a diffuser, covered in reflectors and diffusers. Watch out for highlights clipping, as explained in dynamic range.
Open shade
Open shade is an area shaded from the direct sun, but still open to a large area of bright sky. Examples include the shady side of a building, under a wide doorway or porch, or the edge of a tree's shadow facing an open area. The subject is lit by the bright sky instead of the sun, which gives soft, flattering light with a clear direction.
- Place your subject at the edge of the shade, facing toward the open sky, not deep inside a dark area.
- Avoid dappled shade under leaves, where spots of sun create patchy light on faces.
- Watch the background: a sunny background behind a shaded subject may be much brighter and can clip; choose a shaded background too or accept a bright one on purpose.
- Watch the color: light from blue sky is cool, so skin may look bluish; correct white balance as explained in white balance settings.
Tip:Open shade is one of the quickest ways to turn harsh midday light into beautiful portrait light. Look for the line where sun meets shade and place your subject just inside it.
Overcast light
When clouds cover the sun, the cloud layer spreads light across the whole sky. Photographers often call it a giant natural softbox. Shadows almost disappear and contrast falls.
- Excellent for: portraits without squinting, forests (no harsh light spots), waterfalls, flowers, close-ups and anything where detail in shadows matters.
- Challenges: light can be flat with no direction, and gray skies look dull in photos.
- Solutions: keep gray sky out of the frame, look for directional light near buildings or trees, and use the even light for subjects with color and detail.
Thin, bright clouds are often ideal: soft light with some direction. Heavy dark clouds give less light, so you may need higher ISO or slower shutter speeds.
Choosing or creating the right condition
- Decide the look: dramatic and contrasty (sun), soft and directional (open shade), or soft and even (overcast).
- Work with the weather you have: on a sunny day, use shade for soft portraits and sun for drama; on a cloudy day, choose subjects that suit soft light.
- Create shade if needed: a diffuser held over a subject turns direct sun into soft light.
- Check contrast and background using the histogram from histogram.
Common mistakes
- Midday portraits in full sun: harsh shadows and squinting.
- Dappled shade on faces: patchy spots of light.
- Including dull gray sky in overcast photos: it often looks lifeless.
- Ignoring cool color in shade: skin can look blue unless white balance is corrected.
How professionals use outdoor light
Portrait and wedding photographers become experts at finding open shade at any time of day. Landscape photographers often welcome overcast days for forests and waterfalls, and save sunny days for early and late light. Street photographers use hard midday sun deliberately for bold shadows. They read the condition first, then choose subjects and positions that suit it, instead of fighting the light.
Practical examples
Midday family portrait
- Situation
- A family wants photos at noon on a sunny day in a park.
- What to do
- You place them at the edge of a large tree's shadow, facing the open, sunlit lawn.
- Why it works
- Open shade gives soft light from the bright surroundings, avoiding harsh top light.
- Result
- Soft, flattering light on every face, with no squinting.
A forest waterfall
- Situation
- On a sunny day, the waterfall has bright patches and black shadows.
- What to do
- You return on an overcast day.
- Why it works
- Clouds spread the light evenly, lowering contrast so detail shows everywhere.
- Result
- Even light, rich green moss and detailed rocks.
Key points
- Direct sun is hard and contrasty; open shade is soft and directional; overcast is very soft and even.
- The difference comes from the apparent size of the light source.
- Open shade: subject in shade at the edge, facing open sky; avoid dappled light.
- Overcast skies act like a giant softbox; keep dull gray sky out of the frame.
- Choose subjects that suit the light, or move into shade or use a diffuser.
Frequently asked questions
What is open shade in photography?
Are cloudy days good for photography?
How do I take portraits in harsh sunlight?
Why do my photos in shade look blue?
Conclusion
Direct sun, open shade and overcast skies each create a different kind of light. Use sun for drama and texture, open shade for soft directional portraits, and overcast skies for even, detailed scenes, and move or modify when the light does not suit your subject. Next, you will learn how to use light coming through windows indoors.
Finished reading? Track your progress through Natural light.