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Biohacking for Retouchers: How Light Can Improve Your Health & Performance (1)

What is Biohacking?

In recent years, the emerging field of biohacking has gained significant attention as people seek to optimize their health, performance, and longevity through various methods.

By experimenting with lifestyle interventions, supplements, and technologies, biohackers seek to enhance physical and mental performance and overall well-being.

How can Retouchers Benefit from these Insights?

As retouchers who spend many hours sitting exposed to computer screens, it’s essential to prioritize maintaining good health to deliver optimal performance. Therefore, it makes sense to delve deeper into various aspects that biohacking can improve. We’ll explore some of these aspects below.

Biohacking Lights: The Key to Improving Retouchers’ Performance

For our retouching output, it is essential to how we can use the power of light to optimize our workday and increase well-being during long editing sessions.
Studies have shown that exposure to certain types of light at specific times of the day can significantly impact the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is the natural 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep-wake cycles, hormone production, and other physiological processes.

Exposure to light at appropriate times can help synchronize the circadian rhythm, leading to better sleep quality, improved mood, and increased energy levels.

Why Natural Light is also Part of Biohacking

An essential aspect of using suitable biohacking lamps is first understanding the importance of natural light exposure.

The best time to be exposed to natural light throughout the day is in the morning, within the first one to two hours after waking up. Natural light in the morning helps regulate the circadian rhythm right from the start.

Spending time outdoors during the day can help regulate circadian rhythm and promote better sleep quality at night. Additionally, exposure to natural light has a range of benefits, including improved mood, cognitive function, and vitamin D production.

Why Blue Light Filtering Glasses are Important for Retouchers’ Health

Color assessment is undoubtedly an important aspect of retouching work, as the colors of an image can appear different depending on the type and quality of light in which it is viewed. In the past, we have learned a lot about how to use the right lighting conditions and color assessment tools to ensure accurate color representation. This can range from using a color-calibrated monitor in a properly lit environment, minimizing the impact of colorful objects in the office or to using a spectrophotometer to provide more accurate and precise measurements of color.

However, the use of blue light blocking glasses can be a valuable tool for retouchers to mitigate the negative effects of blue light emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and computers which can disrupt sleep and cause eye strain and fatigue. Some strong blue light blocking glasses, commonly used in professional gaming, have orange-tinted lenses that are specifically designed to block blue light wavelengths. These glasses filter out harmful blue light, while still allowing other wavelengths of light to pass through.

Ideally, for non-color-critical tasks such as emailing, time tracking, marketing, invoicing, accounting, and setting up the retouching workflow, retouchers can use blue light blocking glasses to promote better sleep quality and overall well-being. When switching back to color-critical tasks during the day, it is important to give the eyes a break to adjust to neutral color conditions to better judge light and colors.

In the best case, retouchers can find a compromise between the use of blue light blocking glasses and color assessment tools during the day to maintain good eye health and an appropriate sleep rhythm while still being able to pursue their work professionally.

Can the Use of Plant Lights Improve our Biohacking Efforts?

Plant or grow lights are artificial light sources designed to support the growth and development of plants. However, their benefits extend far beyond the field of horticulture, and they can actually play a significant role in improving biohacking efforts of retouchers like us.

Plant lights emit a spectrum of light that closely mimics natural sunlight and can therefore regulate circadian rhythms.

In addition to their effects on circadian rhythms, plant lights can also enhance mood and energy levels. Exposure to bright light has been shown to increase the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood and promoting feelings of well-being.

Plant lights can also help to combat the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs in response to seasonal changes in light exposure.

Another benefit of using plant lights in a biohacking context is their potential to enhance cognitive function and productivity. Exposure to blue light has been shown to increase alertness and cognitive performance, and plant lights emit a spectrum of light that includes a high proportion of blue light. By using plant lights to provide a source of blue light, we may improve our focus and concentration, and get more done in less time. Incorporating plant lights into your routine may be an effective way to achieve your goals.

Daily Routine Plan for Biohacking with Lights

A Guide for Biohacking with Lights

To help us better understand the different aspects of light, we have created a schedule for when we should expose ourselves to various types of light:

Natural light: Spend at least 20-30 minutes outside in the morning sun within an hour of waking up to help regulate your circadian rhythms, and promote alertness and energy throughout the day.
Blue light: Blue light from devices can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, but it can also be useful for promoting alertness and productivity during the day. Try to limit exposure to blue light in the morning or early afternoon, and avoid using devices emitting blue light before bed.
*Plant light: Consider using plant lights throughout the day – in your work environment or at home – to regulate circadian rhythms, enhance mood and energy levels, and improve cognitive performance.
Blue light-blocking glasses: Wear blue light-filtered glasses during times when exposed to blue light from devices, especially in the evening or before bed to mitigate its effects on sleep quality and circadian rhythms. Consider wearing them during the day to reduce eye strain.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, biohacking provides a means of enhancing our physical and mental performance and promoting overall well-being. As retouchers, we can use biohacking lights and technologies to optimize our working routine and maintain good health over the long term. So, taking biohacking seriously is an excellent option to maximize our performance and health! Start right away!

If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other blog articles in the Smart Work section. Give some special attention to this one: The perfect light setup for post-production.
Also, if you have any suggestions, additions, if this post is out of date, or if you find any mistakes, feel free to leave a comment. You are welcome to share this post, and we are very grateful for every recommendation.

A Practical Approach to Refraction Photography

When you were a kid, have you ever tried to pick up a stick in a running brook, and it doesn’t seem to be exactly where you thought it should be? Have you ever wonder why clouds are white? You are maybe wearing glasses while reading this article – yes that is refraction, too. Refraction is the reason why our eyes can focus and why we’re able to see with vision. We use the properties of refraction all the time to create lenses and magnify images. Every time you’re using your camera, you’re using the power of refraction.

Understanding the scientific principles behind refraction will improve your camera skills.
Knowing how to manipulate its properties, will make you a better photographer by allowing you to create different effects and incredible masterpieces.

When does Refraction occur?

Refraction occurs as light moves through different media such as from the air to the water. As sunlight travels through the vacuum of outer space, it’s travelling at about three million meters per second.

As soon as a light beam hits another transparent medium like water, it slows down. Light travels about 1.33 times faster in a vacuum than in water. When that occurs, light is refracted or bent.

The ratio of how fast light moves through an object compared to a vacuum is called the index of refraction.

Different materials have different index of refraction values. How fast light moves through an object determines how much it will be refracted or bent. The denser the object, the slower it travels.

Refraction also depends on the angle that the light approaches the surface of the new medium.

For those of you that are more technically minded, the angle that light can be refracted or bent in a medium coming from another medium can be predicted from Snell’s Law.

Refraction example in Beverage Photography

Refraction photography is used in the advertising industry to create enticing images of alcoholic beverages. With the right lighting, notice how refraction darkens and defines the edges of this Chivas Regal bottle and how its liquid contents seem to brighten.

If we follow the beam of light, it’s first refracted as it passes through the glass in the bottle and then refracted again as it passes through the liquid. It’s refracted again as it moves out of the liquid.

Refraction & the Angle of Light Example

How you place a light source can also create different visual effects. Its angle will determine the angle that the light will be refracted. Its distance will affect brightness directly onto your object and the amount of light that will be refracted.

Luxury brands demonstrated the importance of light placement in refraction photography. A close light source can magnify the perfume bottle, so so we can see more details of the refracted light on the wall.

Dispersion as Part of Refraction

Refraction occurs all the time in nature. It’s a great teacher and can inspire you to think about how you can use refraction while taking shots for advertising campaigns.

One of the best examples of refraction in nature is the creation of rainbows as sunlight passes through water droplets in the atmosphere. Refraction in the droplets splits the light into different wavelengths that we perceive as colors. The process is called dispersion.

Dispersion also occurs as light passes through prisms as demonstrated in this photograph by Jirawat Plekhongthu.

Snell’s Window and Underwater Photography

Another example of refraction is when you’re underwater and looking up. You can only see a light cone directly above you but not on either side.

This is known as Snell’s Window or Snell’s Circle where you can only see through a cone of light of about 96 degrees. Everything outside that light cone will either be completely dark or show reflections of underwater objects.

This image demonstrates Snell’s Window. A window of light can only be seen just above the woman’s head and at the surface of the water. The rest of the surface in the picture seems dark. Ripples refracting off the water’s surface can also be seen reflecting off the woman’s face.

Other effects of refraction can also be seen as light moves through water to air bubbles and back into the water again.

Diffusion Filter and Refraction Example

The color and quality of a photographic image are determined by how light interacts with an object. In refraction photography, light can be refracted directly in a single pathway or diffused with multiple pathways onto a subject.

You can create different effects just by using different types of refracted light. For example, lines etched on a diffusion filter can refract light to soften images. Refraction through the filter causes light to take multiple pathways with varying shorter and longer distances to the camera.

This affects focus. While most of the image of the woman’s face in this photograph by Alexandra Leroy is in focus, some parts aren’t, resulting in softened edges.

Here are some AI created imagery as inspiration for experimental photography with diffusion filters, foils and refraction.

More Creative Ways Using Glass to Evoke Refraction

Have you ever looked at old windowpane glass and noticed that objects through the glass seem wavy? That’s because over time the window changes how the light is being refracted. Glass acts like a very slow-moving liquid. Overtime, gravity pulls the glass at the top of the window down.
The windowpane glass becomes thinner on top and thicker at the bottom, changing how it will be refracted at different sections. The bottom section refracts light differently than at the top. That’s why it looks wavy. By aiming your camera through an old windowpane, you could create different visual effects.
Play with it and use different exposure and aperture settings. Photograph the whole object through the entire pane or just sections for different visual effects. It’s an effective way to create a dream sequence or the passage of time.

A single source of light while refracted through a liquid like water can also create a gradient effect giving the illusion that the light source is coming from a mysterious source of light. If you put a rod behind a glass of water and move it further back, the image of the rod will mysteriously flip.
Refraction can be used to distort and manipulate image depth and tone.

Photo by FLY:D on Unsplash

This image shows refraction through glass spheres. It was taken with a Sony ILCE-7RM3 camera, 50 mm focal length, aperture ƒ/9, shutter speed 1.3 s and ISO 320.

A pattern image behind a glass of water will also distort and flip due to refraction. Capturing this through the camera will yield some interesting images. If you’re relying on natural light, you’ll need a narrow exposure between f/16 to f/22 with an ISO of around 100.

Make sure your camera is on a tripod for a stable image. You can experiment with different patterns for different effects.

Refraction is a great tool to enrich your photography and enhance your creativity. Without the phenomenon, we probably wouldn’t have vision or photography, and it would truly be a dark and colorless world.

We hope this article serves as inspiration for your next editorial or advertising campaign – If so, please let us know in the comment section below.

Do you have any suggestions, additions, is this post out of date, or have you found any mistakes? Then we look forward to reading your comments. You are welcome to share this post. We are very grateful for every recommendation.

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