Sunlight Studio
Scene
Interior — window light
One window · a subject in the room
The sun follows its real Chicago path for the chosen
month. Turn the window to face any direction, soften the light with the
curtain or cloud cover, and rotate the subject into or away from the beam.
Notes for the shoot
- Drag the scene to orbit and inspect the light from different angles.
- A north-facing window in Chicago never receives direct sun — soft, even light all day, the classic painter's window.
- East windows light up at sunrise through mid-morning; west windows catch the warm afternoon and golden-hour beam.
- South windows get the longest direct light, deepest in winter when the sun rides low.
Softening the light
The curtain and cloud cover both turn hard-edged patches into soft
wrap-around light — flattering for portraits.
Sunlight Studio
Scene
Outdoor — Chicago
41.88°N · street & park, real sun
Sun position, sunrise and sunset are computed for the
real city. Rotate the subject for front-, side-, and back-lit looks, and
switch between an open park and a street canyon between buildings.
The day
Sunrise—
Sunset—
Light on subject—
Notes for the shoot
- The compass letters on the ground show true direction — Lake Michigan is to the east.
- Golden hour is the first and last stretch of sun: low, warm, with long soft shadows. Watch the sunrise / sunset times.
- Back-lit gives a glowing rim of hair light; side-lit sculpts the face; front-lit is even but can cause squinting.
- Chicago streets run east–west — in the canyon, the low sun lines up down the block near the equinoxes ("Chicagohenge").
Overcast
Overcast skies act like a giant softbox: no shadows, gentle even
light, slightly cooler color.