# Electromagnetic Field VS Photons [duplicate]

I am currently studying electrodynamics with all the fields and the like. Now, as I understand it, in a more modern viewpoint there is a duality between electromagnetic fields and photons, with photons being the particles that are exchanged in the process of interaction.

My question is, what is the current explanation to what an electromagnetic field is? For example, consider a point charge $q_1$. In order for another charge $q_2$ to 'feel' $q_1$, there is an electromagnetic field generated by $q_1$ that allows interaction. However, using the photon picture of view, a charge should then constantly radiate photons in all possible directions to let other charges know that it's here and should be interacted with. This leads to a problem in energy conservation, as each photon carries an energy $h\nu$, and thus even if a charge is at rest it would radiate off its energy and subsequently be gone.

How can this be resolved? What is the real connection between an electromagnetic field and photons?

• possible duplicate of Virtual photon description of B and E fields – John Rennie Jul 4 '14 at 6:54
• I don't think so, there they already assume the answer to this question known, refering to virtual photons. I'm asking how this really works! – Pascal Engeler Jul 4 '14 at 6:59
• How mathematically classical electromagnetic fields emerge from a large number of photons is explained in this blog entry, motls.blogspot.com/2011/11/… – anna v Jul 4 '14 at 14:12