Photographic Lighting. Basic Lighting Four types of Lighting.

Photographic Lighting

Photographic LightingPhotographic Lighting

Basic LightingBasic Lighting

Four types of LightingFour types of Lighting

What three things are required for a What three things are required for a successful Photograph?successful Photograph?

““Here Comes the Sun”Here Comes the Sun”

• In photographic lighting we often try In photographic lighting we often try to recreate natural sun light both to recreate natural sun light both direct and indirectdirect and indirect

• In GENERAL the more light the In GENERAL the more light the betterbetter

3 Qualities of Light

• Brightness

• Color

• Contrast

BRIGHTNESS

Simply put, The Brighter the better!

COLOR

Most all pictures are created with white light, a mixture of red, green,

and blue which the human brain perceives as colorless.

CONTRAST

A light source has contrast determined by size and angles of a

light source

Soft Light• SOFT LIGHT has no

clearly defined shadows. It is hard to tell where the light is coming from. In this photo the soft light contributes to the mood or emotion of the photo.

• Soft light is easy on the eyes, but does not work well for a photograph where the texture of something is needed.

Hard Light• HARD LIGHT - has harsh shadows and a defined

direction that can be seen by where the shadow points. Hard light will emphasize the texture of a subject.

Light Size – Large or SmallLight Size – Large or Small

• FlashlightFlashlight

• Light BulbLight Bulb

• Fluorescent LightFluorescent Light

• Outside Overcast DayOutside Overcast Day

• Outside Bright SunOutside Bright Sun

Types of LightingTypes of Lighting

Lighting is an essential element in Lighting is an essential element in every photograph. every photograph.

Photography is the Photography is the manipulation of LIGHT!manipulation of LIGHT!


Learning to set up the best possible Learning to set up the best possible lighting for studio shots is a large part of lighting for studio shots is a large part of the process of becoming a photographer the process of becoming a photographer rather than a snap-shooter. rather than a snap-shooter.


In any lighting set-up, natural or artificial, In any lighting set-up, natural or artificial, the dominant light source, (the one that the dominant light source, (the one that provides the lighting direction), is known provides the lighting direction), is known as the main oras the main or key light.key light.


It can be a harsh (hard or small) or diffused It can be a harsh (hard or small) or diffused (soft or large) source - whichever best suits the (soft or large) source - whichever best suits the image you want to produce.image you want to produce.

Key & Fill LightKey & Fill Light• TheThe main or key light main or key light establishes where the highlights establishes where the highlights

and shadows will be. and shadows will be. • Sometimes, a main light is all that is needed to produce Sometimes, a main light is all that is needed to produce

the desired effect. the desired effect. • More often though, a second light, known as theMore often though, a second light, known as the fill fill

light,light, is used to direct light into the shadow areas and is used to direct light into the shadow areas and lighten (fill) them to the desired level. lighten (fill) them to the desired level.

• TheThe fill light fill light can be a second, less-powerful or more can be a second, less-powerful or more distant light unit, or a reflector that directs light from the distant light unit, or a reflector that directs light from the main source into the shadow areas. main source into the shadow areas.

• The main light establishes theThe main light establishes the lighting direction; lighting direction; the fill the fill light establishes thelight establishes the contrast (the difference in contrast (the difference in brightness between the highlight and shadow areas). brightness between the highlight and shadow areas).

Direction Of LightingDirection Of Lighting

• There are several factors in lighting. There are several factors in lighting.



• The direction of the lighting is probably the The direction of the lighting is probably the most important one. most important one.



• The direction of the lighting is probably the The direction of the lighting is probably the most important one. most important one.

• Whether the light comes from the front of the Whether the light comes from the front of the subject, from the side, from behind, from subject, from the side, from behind, from above, from below, or from somewhere in-above, from below, or from somewhere in-between, it determines the overall look of the between, it determines the overall look of the photograph.photograph.

I See The Light I See The Light

• Lighting directions are generally Lighting directions are generally specified relative to the subject, rather specified relative to the subject, rather than to the camera. than to the camera.

• For instance, front lighting means the For instance, front lighting means the light is falling on the front of the light is falling on the front of the subject- the light therefore is coming subject- the light therefore is coming from behind the camera. from behind the camera.

Front LightingFront Lighting• Light that comes from directly in front of the Light that comes from directly in front of the

subject produces a flat, shadow less effect. subject produces a flat, shadow less effect. • The shadows are all cast behind the subject, The shadows are all cast behind the subject,

out of sight. out of sight. • That is easy to work with, but generally not That is easy to work with, but generally not

too exciting. too exciting. • Front lighting is useful for identification Front lighting is useful for identification

photos and overall views, because nothing is photos and overall views, because nothing is hidden in shadow. hidden in shadow.

• However, it is generally not used for However, it is generally not used for dramatic or artistic effect. dramatic or artistic effect.

• When it is used, front lighting generally When it is used, front lighting generally should be soft.should be soft.

Side LightingSide Lighting

Light that comes from one side of the Light that comes from one side of the subject produces shadows on the subject produces shadows on the opposite side of the subject, emphasizing opposite side of the subject, emphasizing texture and form. texture and form.

Side LightingSide Lighting

In portrait work, side lighting generally requires a second light source on the shadow side of the subject in order to fill (lighten) the shadows.

Back LightingBack Lighting

Light that comes from behind the subject Light that comes from behind the subject casts shadows toward the camera casts shadows toward the camera producing a halo effect around the producing a halo effect around the subject. subject.


Since the background is brighter than the Since the background is brighter than the subject with backlit scenes, you must subject with backlit scenes, you must choose between exposing the background choose between exposing the background normally, and producing a silhouetted normally, and producing a silhouetted subject. subject.


For people-pictures, some kind of fill light For people-pictures, some kind of fill light source is generally needed when back source is generally needed when back lighting is used lighting is used

Top LightingTop Lighting

Light from above the subject emphasizes Light from above the subject emphasizes texture and form in vertical surfaces, texture and form in vertical surfaces, but is bad portrait lighting, as the but is bad portrait lighting, as the subject's eyes get lost in deep shadows subject's eyes get lost in deep shadows creating a hollow effect. creating a hollow effect.


As sunlight generally comes from above, As sunlight generally comes from above, lighting from above looks 'natural', and lighting from above looks 'natural', and most lighting set-ups should come from most lighting set-ups should come from some angle above the subject in order to some angle above the subject in order to appear natural and enhance the features appear natural and enhance the features of the subject. of the subject.


However, lighting from directly above should generally be However, lighting from directly above should generally be avoided.avoided.

Low-Lighting AnglesLow-Lighting Angles

• In nature, light seldom comes In nature, light seldom comes from below a subject. from below a subject.


• In nature, light seldom comes In nature, light seldom comes from below a subject. from below a subject.

• Therefore, low-angle lighting Therefore, low-angle lighting most times should be avoided if most times should be avoided if a natural appearance is desired a natural appearance is desired in the photograph. in the photograph.


• In nature, light seldom comes from In nature, light seldom comes from below a subject. below a subject.

• Therefore, low-angle lighting most Therefore, low-angle lighting most times should be avoided if a natural times should be avoided if a natural appearance is desired in the appearance is desired in the photograph. photograph.

• However, for eerie portraits, such However, for eerie portraits, such "horror lighting" it can be "horror lighting" it can be effective.effective.

CombinationsCombinations• In most studio work, light rarely In most studio work, light rarely

comes just from the front or comes just from the front or behind, to one side, above, or behind, to one side, above, or below a subject. below a subject.

CombinationsCombinations• In most studio work, light rarely In most studio work, light rarely

comes just from the front or comes just from the front or behind, to one side, above, or behind, to one side, above, or below a subject. below a subject.

• It generally is a combination of It generally is a combination of these lighting. these lighting.

CombinationsCombinations

The "classical" portrait lighting setup The "classical" portrait lighting setup starts with a light above and to one side starts with a light above and to one side of the subject (about 45of the subject (about 45oo above and 45 above and 45oo to the side, varied as needed to tailor the to the side, varied as needed to tailor the lighting to a particular face). lighting to a particular face).

CombinationsCombinations

A popular portrait lighting today is the A popular portrait lighting today is the "over-and-under, "with one large soft "over-and-under, "with one large soft light just above the camera lens, and light just above the camera lens, and another (or a fill reflector) directly below another (or a fill reflector) directly below the lensthe lens

Four Types of Lighting


• RembrandtRembrandt


• RembrandtRembrandt• ParamountParamount


• RembrandtRembrandt• ParamountParamount• LoopLoop


• RembrandtRembrandt• ParamountParamount• LoopLoop• SplitSplit

Rembrandt• Rembrandt or 45Rembrandt or 45oo lighting lighting

creates classic shadows on creates classic shadows on the face. the face.



• It is characterized by a It is characterized by a small, triangular highlight small, triangular highlight on the shadowed cheek of on the shadowed cheek of the subject. the subject.




• The lighting in fact takes its The lighting in fact takes its name from the famous name from the famous Dutch painter. Dutch painter.




• The lighting in fact takes its The lighting in fact takes its name from the famous name from the famous Dutch painter. Dutch painter.

• It is more for masculine It is more for masculine lighting and used commonly lighting and used commonly with a weak fill light to with a weak fill light to accentuate the shadow-side accentuate the shadow-side highlight.highlight.

Rembrandt

Paramount LightingParamount Lighting

• Paramount lighting, sometimes Paramount lighting, sometimes called butterfly lighting or glamour called butterfly lighting or glamour lightinglighting, is a feminine lighting , is a feminine lighting pattern that produces a pattern that produces a symmetrical, butterfly-like shadow symmetrical, butterfly-like shadow beneath the subject's nose. beneath the subject's nose.

Paramount Key LightParamount Key Light

• Since the light must be Since the light must be high and close to the high and close to the subject to produce the subject to produce the wanted shadow, it should wanted shadow, it should not be used on women not be used on women with deep eye sockets - with deep eye sockets - or to illuminate the eyes. or to illuminate the eyes.

Paramount Fill LightParamount Fill Light

• Since both the key and Since both the key and fill lights are on the fill lights are on the same side of the camera, same side of the camera, a fill card must be used a fill card must be used opposite the lights and opposite the lights and close to the subject to fill close to the subject to fill in the deep shadows on in the deep shadows on the neck and shaded the neck and shaded cheekcheek

Paramount Hair LightParamount Hair Light

• The hair light, which is The hair light, which is always used opposite always used opposite the key light, should the key light, should light the hair only and light the hair only and not skim onto the face not skim onto the face of the subject. of the subject.

Paramount Background LightParamount Background Light

• The background light, The background light, used low and behind the used low and behind the subject, should form a subject, should form a semi-circle on the semi-circle on the seamless background (if seamless background (if using one), so that the using one), so that the tone of the background tone of the background grows gradually darker grows gradually darker the farther out from the the farther out from the subject you look. subject you look.

Paramount Front LightParamount Front Light

• Front lighting places Front lighting places shadows on either side shadows on either side of the face and under of the face and under the nose (if the light is the nose (if the light is raised high enough) to raised high enough) to form the famous form the famous "butterfly" shadow "butterfly" shadow

Paramount Butterfly LightParamount Butterfly Light

Paramount LightParamount Light

Loop LightingLoop Lighting

• Even with a very basic outfit, Even with a very basic outfit, you can produce excellent you can produce excellent portraits portraits

Loop Key LightingLoop Key Lighting

• In this example, we In this example, we used a flash unit as used a flash unit as the key light directed the key light directed towards the model towards the model from an angle of from an angle of about 45about 45oo in front in front and to the right of and to the right of the camera. the camera.

Loop Fill LightingLoop Fill Lighting

• A Fill light was used A Fill light was used to soften the shadows to soften the shadows on the face and to fill on the face and to fill in the shadows and in the shadows and prevent them prevent them becoming too heavy becoming too heavy

Loop Background LightingLoop Background Lighting

• A roll of background A roll of background paper was placed paper was placed some 2 feet behind some 2 feet behind the model and lit the model and lit with a single light with a single light

Loop Lighting MeteringLoop Lighting Metering

• Exposure determination Exposure determination is straightforward for is straightforward for this type of shot. this type of shot.

Loop Lighting MeteringLoop Lighting Metering

• Exposure determination Exposure determination is straightforward for is straightforward for this type of shot. this type of shot.

• Just point the Flash Just point the Flash meter towards the meter towards the camera from the model camera from the model position.position.




Split Lighting• Split lighting is when the key light Split lighting is when the key light

illuminates only half the face illuminates only half the face


illuminates only half the face illuminates only half the face • It is an ideal slimming lighting It is an ideal slimming lighting

pattern. pattern.



pattern. pattern. • It can be used to narrow a wide face, It can be used to narrow a wide face,

or to narrow a wide nose. or to narrow a wide nose.




or to narrow a wide nose. or to narrow a wide nose. • It can also be used with weak fill to It can also be used with weak fill to

hide facial imperfections. hide facial imperfections.




or to narrow a wide nose. or to narrow a wide nose. • It can also be used with weak fill to It can also be used with weak fill to

hide facial imperfections. hide facial imperfections. • Split lighting can be used with no fill Split lighting can be used with no fill

light for a dramatic effect light for a dramatic effect

Split Key LightingSplit Key Lighting

• In split lighting, the In split lighting, the key light is moved key light is moved farther to the side of farther to the side of the subject and lower. the subject and lower.

Split Key LightingSplit Key Lighting

• In split lighting, the In split lighting, the key light is moved key light is moved farther to the side of farther to the side of the subject and lower. the subject and lower.

• In some cases, the key In some cases, the key light is slightly light is slightly behind the subject, behind the subject, depending on how far depending on how far the subject is turned the subject is turned from the camerafrom the camera

Split Fill LightingSplit Fill Lighting

• The fill light, hair light, and background light are used normally for split lighting


Split LightingSplit Lighting

See Ya’ll Next Week

Photographic Lighting. Basic Lighting Four types of Lighting.

Documents

main light

soft light soft light

hard light hard light

direct light

key light

white light

manipulation of light

light source slide