“North light” usually means indirect daylight from a window that the sun does not shine directly through. In the northern hemisphere, a north-facing window typically gives this kind of light. The appeal is that it has a daylight color balance but is softer and more even than direct sun, without harsh beams and strong shadows.

For photography, this makes it useful for portraits, still life, and other subjects where you want gentle, natural-looking illumination.

If you don’t have literal north light, you can often get a similar effect from any window that is not receiving direct sunlight at that time of day. What matters most is indirect, diffuse daylight rather than the compass direction itself.

You can also simulate it with artificial lighting by using a diffused light source set to a daylight color temperature. Soft, even light is the key.