Mixed lighting situations – where natural light meets artificial sources – can be tricky to manage, but they also offer creative opportunities. Whether you’re photographing indoors near a window or capturing a nighttime portrait lit by a streetlamp and flash, understanding how to blend these light sources is key to achieving a natural, balanced result.
1. Understand the Color Temperatures
Every light source has a color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K):
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Daylight: Around 5500K – cool, neutral light.
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Incandescent bulbs: Around 2800–3200K – warm, yellow/orange tones.
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Fluorescent lights: Vary widely – often greenish or blue.
Mixing warm and cool lights can cause unwanted color casts unless carefully managed.
2. Set Your White Balance Manually
Auto white balance often struggles in mixed lighting. Instead:
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Use custom white balance or presets like “Tungsten” or “Daylight” to match your dominant light source.
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Shoot in RAW format to easily correct color temperature in post-processing.
3. Control the Light Sources
You can influence the balance of light by:
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Turning off competing lights that clash with your main source.
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Modifying artificial lights with gels to match the color of natural light.
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Using curtains or reflectors to control natural light spill.
4. Use Flash Wisely
When adding artificial light to natural settings:
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Diffuse your flash to make it less harsh and more natural-looking.
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Adjust flash power to subtly fill shadows instead of overpowering ambient light.
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Position the flash to mimic the direction of the natural light source.
5. Post-Processing Tips
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Use white balance sliders to fine-tune color harmony.
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Mask and adjust different areas of the image separately if needed.
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Correct unnatural skin tones or shadows introduced by clashing light sources.
Mastering mixed lighting allows you to adapt to complex scenes and still create cohesive, beautiful images. With practice, you’ll learn to use these challenges to your creative advantage.