CrMODULE 2.

Overview on Light, Its Sources and Importance

OBJECTIVES:

1. Discuss and Demonstrate Nature And Characteristics of Light and its Significance to
Forensic Photography
2. Analyze the concept of Electromagnetic Spectrum and visible colors from it.

LESSON 3: OVERVIEW ON LIGHT AND SOURCES OF LIGHT: NATURE OF

LIGHT

Light is defined as electromagnetic energy with the speed of 186,00 miles

per second. Its wave travel is said to be characterized in certain extent based
on velocity, wavelength and frequency of the number of vibrations of the
wave per second.

Once light hits a certain medium, its action can be characterized as either;
Reflected, Transmitted or Absorbed (RAT). Reflected once the light hits a
mirror and it bounce back. Transmitted when the light hits a transparent
glass which would allow the light to pass through its medium and
absorbed when the light hits a dark colored object and prevents it from either
bouncing or passing through.

Isaac Newton in 1666 proved that the light which men see as white light
is a mixture of all colors of the spectrum. This is produced when we allow
light to hit a glass prism (Sharp Edge of the Glass). A rainbow array will
then be shown with colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet colors
(from top to bottom). The visible light is also said of have a wavelength of
between 400-700 millimicron or nanometer.

 General Sources of Light

a) Natural Light

The universe is filled with objects that emit light. Some of the light from these
sources reach the earth. The following things in nature can emit light:

1. The sun is the major source of light for the earth

2. Every other star produces light too
 3. The moon provides light as well
4. Some living organisms can produce light too. ex. Fireflies jellyfish
plants and microorganisms
5. Certain other natural phenomena such as lightning and volcanic eruptions
also emit light

b) Artificial Light

Apart from the natural sources, light can be produced artificially too.
The different light sources produced artificially can be put under
three board categories

 Incandescent sources
 Luminescent sources - triggered by light
 Flame
 Gas discharge sources
 Explosions
 Phosphorescence
 Electric discharge
 Fluorescence
 Chemiluminescence glow caused by a chemical reaction
 Bioluminescence

TYPES OF LIGHT

Lights can largely be classified into visible and invisible light.

a. Visible Light
= Is the type of light that produces different sensation when reach the
human eye. It is the type of light, which is capable of exciting the retina of
the human eye.

b. Invisible Light
= lights in which their wavelength are either too short or too long to excite
the retina of the human eye i.e. X-ray, Ultrat-violet and Infra-red lights

QUALITIES OF LIGHT

1. INTENSITY- it refers to the strength of light which

varies according to the output of the light sources
 a. Bright sun on light sand or snow
b. Bright sun (distinct shadows)
c. Hazy sun (soft shadows)
d. Cloudy bright ( no shadow)
e. Heavy overcast
f. Open shade

2. DIRECTION- when there is a single source the

direction is clearly defined. Where there are multiple
sources, or the light is diffused as on a cloudy day, the
direction is less evident or totally absent

3. COLOR- light varies in color depending upon its

sources and the substance through which it passes.
Natural sunlight has a different color mixture from
incandescent lighting or electronic flash and the color
sunlight itself varies depending upon the atmospheric
conditions and time of the day.

THEORIES OF LIGHT

The Corpuscular Theory- Corpuscular theory

(Newton)

= this later opposed the wave theory stating that

light has its effect by the motion of very small
particles such as electrons.

The WAVE Theory (Huygens)

= It is the theory that was transcribed from the motion of the water that if we
observe a piece of log floating in
the ocean and with the force of
the air, it would naturally make
the log move up and down.

Electromagnetic Wave Theory

 Based on electromagnetics. The main points of electromagnetic wave theory
were when electrically charged particles moves under acceleration, alternating
electrical and magnetic fields are produce and transmitted. These fields are
transmitted in the form of waves.

 Properties of Light

Objects vary in how they transmit light. Whatever we see around us looks
different and have different properties. Some objects are transparent, translucent
and opaque

a) Transparent-
allow light to pass
through them
b) Translucent- come
in between opaque
and transparent
materials, allow
some light to pass
through them but
partially
c) Opaque- block
light and do not
allow it to travel
through them

Transparent object
allows light to pass through it without scattering whereas translucent objects also allow
light to pass through it but partially. One can see through transparent objects as it
allows clear image formation. It should be noted that one can also see through
translucent objects but not clearly. The translucent object does not allow clear image
formation because of partial visibility. So, materials appear frosted and stained.
Transparent objects do not cast shadows as they do not block light. The translucent
objects cast faint shadows as they block light partially. Transparent objects follow the
law of refraction whereas translucent objects do not follow the law of refraction.
Examples of transparent objects is a sheet of plane glass, water, air etc. Example of
objects that are translucent is a sheet of polythene, a flame of the burner, fog etc.

HOW LIGHT BEHAVES

Light moves in straight lines from its source, but it can be bent and scattered by objects
placed in its path. We see rays of sunlight streaming through a window on a sunny day because
some of the light is scattered by dust particles in the air. We can only see a ray of light when it
strikes the eye directly. Then it forms an image of the object from which it has come, either the
light source itself, or something from which it has been reflected, such as a motorcar. Non-
luminous objects are one, which are only visible when they reflect the light from a light source.

In a totally dark room, you would not be able to see a desk, but you would be able to see the
hands of a luminous clock. If the totally black room had no dust particles floating around it, you
would not able to see the beam of light, but only the light source itself and any object that
reflects the light.

IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT IN PHOTOGRAPHY

During our everyday lives, we all take natural and artificial light sources for granted.
However, there are many factors that contribute to great photography, but none is more
important than light. A light source impacts everything in photography including the character,
separation, colors, textures, mood and the story of the image.
 Lighting is a key factor in creating a successful image. Lighting determines not only
brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood, and atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to
control and manipulate light correctly in order to get the best texture, vibrancy of color, and
luminosity on your subjects. By distributing shadow and highlights accurately, you can create
stylized professional-looking photographs

Lesson 4: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Who discovered the Electro Magnetic Spectrum?
- James Clerk Maxwell (Father Of Electromagnetism)

CONCEPT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

The electromagnetic spectrum is just a way of describing all the different types of light
waves that exist, even though we can't see most of them. These waves are made of electric and
magnetic fields that travel through space. The spectrum includes everything from very short
waves (like gamma rays) to very long waves (like radio waves).

Here's how it breaks down in simple terms:

1. Radio Waves: These are the longest waves, and they're what we use for things like radio,
TV signals, and cell phone communications. Imagine the waves you see when you throw
a stone into a pond, but stretched out a lot longer.
2. Microwaves: These waves are a bit shorter than radio waves. We use microwaves for
cooking food in microwave ovens and for certain types of communication (like
satellites). They're also involved in radar technology.
 3. Infrared (IR): Infrared waves are shorter than microwaves. We can’t see them, but we
feel them as heat. For example, your body gives off infrared radiation, and things like
remote controls use infrared to send signals.
4. Visible Light: This is the tiny part of the spectrum that we can see with our eyes. The
colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) are part of the
visible light spectrum. Red has the longest wavelength, and violet has the shortest.
5. Ultraviolet (UV): UV rays have shorter wavelengths than visible light. You can't see
them, but you can feel them as the sunburn-causing rays. They're also used in things like
black lights.
6. X-rays: These waves are even shorter and more energetic. They can pass through the
body and are used in medicine to take pictures of bones.
7. Gamma Rays: These are the shortest, most powerful waves. They're produced by
nuclear reactions and certain types of radioactive materials. They're used in cancer
treatments but can also be harmful in large doses.

Summary:

 Longer waves = Radio, Microwaves

 Medium waves = Infrared, Visible light
 Shorter waves = Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays

Visible Spectrum- a small part of the

electromagnetic spectrum where the
visible light is found, the portion of
the electromagnetic spectrum that
affect the human sense of sight.
Visible light includes all those
radiation having a wavelength
ranging from 400 – 700 mu.

Kinds of Visible Spectrum

a) Red Light- wavelength is

approximately 650 nanometer
b) Orange Light- wavelength is approximately 590 nanometer
c) Yellow Light- wavelength is approximately 570 nanometer
d) Green Light- wavelength is approximately 510 nanometer
e) Blue Light- wavelength is approximately 475 nanometer
f) Indigo Light- wavelength is approximately 445 nanometer
g) Violet Light- wavelength is approximately 400 nanometer
Additive Color

- Additive color is color created by mixing a number of different light colors, with shades of red,
green and blue being the most common primary colors used in additive color system. The
combination of two of the standard three additive primary colors in equal proportions produces
an additive secondary color namely cyan, magenta and yellow which in the form of dyes or
pigments, are the standard primary colors in subtractive color systems.

COLOR MIXING
1. Color Addition
R+B+G = W
R+B= M
M+Y= R
R+G= Y
Y+C= B
B+G= C
Y+C= G

Subtractive Color
- A subtractive color model explains the mixing of a limited set of dyes, inks, paint pigments or
natural colorants to create a wider range of colors, each the result of partially or completely
subtracting that is absorbing some wavelengths of light and not others. The color that a surface
display depends on which parts of the visible spectrum are not absorbed and therefore remain
visible. Subtractive color systems start with light, presumably white light. Colored inks, paints,
or filters between the watchers and the light source or reflective surface subtract wavelengths
from the light, giving it color. If the incident light is other than white, our visual mechanisms can
compensate well, but not perfectly, often giving a flawed impression of the "true" color of the
surface.
2. Color Subtraction
W-R= C
W-C=R
C-G=B
W-B=Y
W-Y=B
Y-G=R
W-G=M
W-M=G
Y-R=G