To calculate the number of photons in light, use the formula E = hf, where E is the total energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the light. The total energy in light can be determined by multiplying the power of the light source by the duration of time it is on. Once the total energy is known, divide this value by the energy per photon to find the number of photons. The key is understanding the relationship between energy, frequency, and the number of photons. This method provides a clear approach to quantifying photons in a given light source.