LED Lights, LED Lighting, LED Bulbs, LEDs

Photographers are discovering the benefits of LED Lighting.

Photography is all about effective use of light. So, naturally, LED Lights can help. LEDs are more reliable and produce a brighter light for their comparatively small size. This allows photographers to explore new and innovative lighting techniques.

Macro Photography

Macro photography involves taking photos of small subjects from an extremely close range. Some subjects are so close they almost touch the camera lens. This affords very little room for lighting and can result in excessive shadowing.

LED Ring Lights are specifically designed for macro photography. Small white LEDs are attached to the end of the camera lens in a ring-like arrangement and provide plenty of light directly to the subject.

Flash Photography

When taking photos indoors a flash is necessary. Most in-built camera flashes use either LED or Xenon. LED flashes provide a superior quality flash. The light is softer and more even.

Continuous Lighting

Continuous lighting is designed to illuminate an object for an extended length of time. Mostly used by videographers, LEDs are favoured for continuous lighting due to their low energy consumption and long life expectancy.

LED pad lights come in a range of shapes and sizes, and vary from small portable camera attachments to large free-standing versions. Using an array of LEDs, the pads cast a strong light which reduces the presence of shadows and highlight the features of a subject

When capturing digital video footage it can be difficult to maintain a constant level of light. As you turn the camera you will notice the image goes from light, to dark and back to light again. LED video pads can be used to prevent this.

Camera Phones

More and more camera phones are switching from Xenon to LED lights. This is because users like the option to switch between photo and video capture. Xenon bulbs can only flash and cannot be used as a continuous light source. LED bulbs can be used for both.

CRI and Colour Temperature

Finding the right “type” of light is also important. Under certain types of light a subject may appear warmer or cooler, depending on the colour temperature. This can leave an image looking unnatural.

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of a light source tells a photographer how natural an artificial light source is. LEDs are able to achieve a much higher CRI than other types of light, resulting in an image that is more natural.

Our only surprise is that LEDs weren’t used sooner.