Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What changes occur to light as soon as the sun rises?

1. It becomes colder

2. It becomes warmer

3. It becomes dimmer

4. It becomes brighter

The correct answer is: It becomes warmer

As the sun rises, the quality of light changes significantly, causing it to become warmer in tone. This is primarily due to the angle of the sun in relation to the Earth's atmosphere. During sunrise, the sunlight has to travel through more atmosphere, which scatters shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) and allows longer wavelengths (red, orange, and yellow) to dominate. This scattering effect gives the light a warmer hue, characterized by richer colors that can create stunning visual effects in photography. Additionally, the transition from night to day also involves increasing intensity of light, which can further enhance the warm tones present in the early morning light. While daylight after sunrise is typically brighter than pre-dawn hours, the specific warmth in color temperature is notably enriched as the sun rises, making the light appear more golden and vibrant.