Photography is not just pointing a camera at something and snapping a picture. Its also about mastering the tools of the trade. Painters mix colors together to create different textures and effects in their paintings. Filmmakers test different lenses. The most powerful tool for a photographer is his lighting equipment. Lighting adds drama, softness, coldness, and casts shadows to create emotions. Bad lighting techniques produce unflattering portraits.
Lighting Equipment Set Up
The Key Light (or main light) is set up in front of the subject. Its function is to draw attention to the center of the face and shape your subject. To the right or left of the Key Light, yet still facing the subject, is the Fill Light. It offsets the shadows created by the main Key Light. It controls how light or dark shadows are in the face and around the subject by diffusing the light produced by the light in various ways. A popular method of diffusing the light is by using frosted plastic. Background lights give your photograph a 3-D feel by pulling the subject away from the background used in the picture. It isnt aimed at the subject at all. It is aimed at the background wall.
Distorting Features
Cover up unflattering features that your subject doesnt want emphasized with special lighting techniques. Broad Lighting requires the use of a stronger Key Light or Main Light. The face is turned towards the camera. This technique flattens out the features of the face. For example, this lighting technique is used to fatten up slim narrow faces. For the opposite effect, photographers use short lighting. They turn the subject away from the camera and use a softer fill light.
Butterfly Lighting
Every woman wants to look like a model in photographs. Butterfly lighting is used to achieve a dramatic and glamorous effect. The key light is positioned directly in front of the subject. It creates symmetry in the face by producing shadows under the chin and the nose that center the face. This tactic attempts to re-create the bright light of the sun by using high powered key and fill lights. In the book, Lighting David Prakel writes that the butterfly shadow produced under the nose is used to perfectly position the lights for emphasis on eyes and cheekbones.
Rembrandt Lighting
Named after the famous painter, Rembrandt Lighting seeks to create a dramatic photograph in the likeness of Rembrandt's famous paintings by emphasizing the beauty of the natural face. It combines butterfly style lighting with short lighting technique. The subject looks away from the camera and key light. To create the shadow for symmetry, however, the lights are placed at 45-degree angles to create those shadows on the cheek.
Tips
Hang lights from the ceiling to get another angle for casting shadows. Control your lighting based on the mood you want to set for the photograph. Cover your frame with the subject. All the shots dont have to be close ups of the face. Zoom the camera in as tight on the subject as possible. Focus on keeping the subjects eyes within the top third of the frame. Use props and backlighting to create texture and a multi-dimensional feel to the photograph. Try different camera angles to capture the most dramatic shadow positions.
Photography is not just pointing a camera at something and snapping a picture. Its also about mastering the tools of the trade. Painters mix colors together to create different textures and effects in their paintings. Filmmakers test different lenses. The most powerful tool for a photographer is his lighting equipment. Lighting adds drama, softness, coldness, and casts shadows to create emotions. Bad lighting techniques produce unflattering portraits.
Lighting Equipment Set Up
The Key Light (or main light) is set up in front of the subject. Its function is to draw attention to the center of the face and shape your subject. To the right or left of the Key Light, yet still facing the subject, is the Fill Light. It offsets the shadows created by the main Key Light. It controls how light or dark shadows are in the face and around the subject by diffusing the light produced by the light in various ways. A popular method of diffusing the light is by using frosted plastic. Background lights give your photograph a 3-D feel by pulling the subject away from the background used in the picture. It isnt aimed at the subject at all. It is aimed at the background wall.
Distorting Features
Cover up unflattering features that your subject doesnt want emphasized with special lighting techniques. Broad Lighting requires the use of a stronger Key Light or Main Light. The face is turned towards the camera. This technique flattens out the features of the face. For example, this lighting technique is used to fatten up slim narrow faces. For the opposite effect, photographers use short lighting. They turn the subject away from the camera and use a softer fill light.
Butterfly Lighting
Every woman wants to look like a model in photographs. Butterfly lighting is used to achieve a dramatic and glamorous effect. The key light is positioned directly in front of the subject. It creates symmetry in the face by producing shadows under the chin and the nose that center the face. This tactic attempts to re-create the bright light of the sun by using high powered key and fill lights. In the book, Lighting David Prakel writes that the butterfly shadow produced under the nose is used to perfectly position the lights for emphasis on eyes and cheekbones.
Rembrandt Lighting
Named after the famous painter, Rembrandt Lighting seeks to create a dramatic photograph in the likeness of Rembrandt's famous paintings by emphasizing the beauty of the natural face. It combines butterfly style lighting with short lighting technique. The subject looks away from the camera and key light. To create the shadow for symmetry, however, the lights are placed at 45-degree angles to create those shadows on the cheek.
Tips
Hang lights from the ceiling to get another angle for casting shadows. Control your lighting based on the mood you want to set for the photograph. Cover your frame with the subject. All the shots dont have to be close ups of the face. Zoom the camera in as tight on the subject as possible. Focus on keeping the subjects eyes within the top third of the frame. Use props and backlighting to create texture and a multi-dimensional feel to the photograph. Try different camera angles to capture the most dramatic shadow positions.
Photography tips and techniques: articles and guides from
photo.net/learnPortrait Photography, Macro Photography, Street Photography, Wedding Photography, Travel Photography, Stock Photography, Studio Lighting, Digital
Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider Photoshop & Photography ...
scottkelby.comFirst I want to thank Scott and Brad for allowing me to be a guest on his blog. I became aware of Scott some 20 months ago after too many soccer/running injuries.
DIYPhotography.net Hacking Photography For The Love of It
diyphotography.netOne of the ways to increase the time a strobe or a camera can run for a longer durations, is to use an external battery for power. Some cameras and strobes have a ...
Expert photography blogs, tips, techniques, camera reviews ...
www.adorama.com/alcAdorama Learning Center How-to tips, buying guides, tutorials from AdoramaTV, product reviews for better photography, video, and more!
Strobist
www.strobist.blogspot.com
The world's most popular free resource for learning how to use off-camera flash.
Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School
digital-photography-school.comWelcome to Digital Photography School! Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all ...
Photography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography
Photography (derived from the Greek photos- for "light" and -graphos for "drawing") is the art, science, and practice of creating durable images by recording light
Portrait Photography guide and tips from Photo.net - Page 2
photo.net/learn/portraits/?p=2Our guide to portrait photography contains tips, equipment suggestions, and ideas at Photo.net.
Photoflex Lighting School Photoflex
www.photoflex.com/plsOutdoor Portrait. As seasoned photographers well know, the sun can provide beautiful light for outdoor portraits. At other times, however, they also know that it can ...
Digital ProTalk
digitalprotalk.blogspot.comSeated In His History" David A. Ziser. I found this to be a very poignant moment during our recent trip to Monticello, Virginia home to our third president ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment