Meaning & use
incident light
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnicalphysics
Light that falls onto a surface or a subject, as opposed to the light reflected back from it.
Grammar: Not used with a: measure the incident light.
Patterns
- incident light on something
The sensor measures the incident light falling on the leaf.
A hand-held meter reads incident light rather than reflected light.
Incident light is partly absorbed and partly reflected by the surface.
noununcountabletechnical
In photography, the light reaching the subject, measured to set the correct exposure.
Grammar: Often used with meter or reading: an incident light meter.
Patterns
- incident light meter
- incident light reading
She took an incident light reading beside the model's face.
Using incident light gives accurate exposure on dark clothing.
Studio photographers often trust incident light over reflected readings.
Common combinations
- incident light meter
- He pointed the incident light meter at the camera.
- measure incident light
- You can measure incident light with a handheld device.
- incident light reading
- An incident light reading avoids tricky shadows.
- angle of incident light
- The angle of incident light changes the glare.
Synonyms and how they differ
- incoming light
- Incoming light is plain everyday phrasing for the same idea.
- illumination
- Illumination is the general amount of light on something, less technical.
- ambient light
- Ambient light is the general light in a space, not only light hitting one surface.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: incident light or ambient light?
incident light vs ambient light
Ambient light surrounds you; incident light is measured at a specific surface.
Practice
Which kind of reading does an incident light meter take?
Choose one answer.
Incident light is light falling on the subject. Reflected light, bouncing off it, is what an in-camera meter reads.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “incident light”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.