Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which phenomenon can cause skies to appear too light in black and white photography?

1. Overexposure

2. High contrast

3. Sensitivity to blue light

4. Lens flare

The correct answer is: Sensitivity to blue light

The phenomenon where skies appear too light in black and white photography can often be attributed to sensitivity to blue light. In black and white photography, different colors have varying degrees of brightness when converted to grayscale. Blue light, for example, tends to register as lighter compared to other colors due to its shorter wavelength. This can result in a sky that appears overly bright or washed out in the resulting black and white image, as the blue hues dominate the tonal range of the photograph. Understanding the nature of color sensitivity in black and white photography is crucial for managing exposure and achieving the desired contrast. By being mindful of how the camera sensor or film responds to different colors, photographers can better control the outcome and ensure the sky retains the appropriate tonal values, rather than becoming too light which can detract from the overall composition. In summary, sensitivity to blue light plays a critical role in rendering the sky in a way that may lead to an overly bright appearance in black and white photographs.