why is morning sunlight “softer” than afternoon light even uf the sun is at the same angle in sky?

Question

Like let’s assume 10am and 6pm are the same relative angles of sun in the sky- why isn’t the lighting identical warmth in photos?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Most simply put, no matter where you are, the air is likely to be cooler in be morning; meaning that the light, which doesn’t change, travels through a more densely packed atoms that filter or scatter the higher red frequencies of light. In the afternoon, evening, when the air is warmed up, there is more space that allows more of the higher frequencies of light to pass through.

Edit: Longer wavelengths or frequencies of light are blue so there are more