Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

How does the atmosphere affect the color of light during sunrise?

1. It intensifies blue hues

2. It makes light appear warmer

3. It has no effect

4. It solely filters out yellow hues

The correct answer is: It makes light appear warmer

During sunrise, the atmosphere plays a significant role in altering the color of light, primarily by scattering shorter wavelengths and allowing longer wavelengths to predominate. As sunlight passes through a greater thickness of the atmosphere during sunrise, the shorter blue and violet wavelengths are scattered out, while the longer wavelengths, including reds, oranges, and yellows, become more pronounced. This scattering effect creates a warm palette of colors that characterizes the beauty of sunrise. Consequently, the warmer appearance of light during this time is due to the way that atmospheric conditions filter and scatter the incoming sunlight, which results in this rich, warm glow that photographers seek to capture. This phenomenon contributes to the soft, golden tones often associated with morning light, enhancing the overall mood and quality of the image. Other choices suggest various misconceptions about the effects of the atmosphere. For instance, stating that it intensifies blue hues overlooks the fundamental physics of light scattering. Claiming that the atmosphere has no effect at all is contrary to the well-documented phenomena of light behavior. Lastly, stating that it solely filters out yellow hues ignores the complexity of atmospheric interaction with light across the entire spectrum.