Even natural light photography utilizes lighting techniques.
Photography utilizes the same interplay of light and shadow as painting. Just as a painter adds lighter or darker colors to a canvas, the photographer adds or removes light to emphasize or diminish certain aspects of the image. Photographers use a basic series of lights in their setup, which allow them to achieve different lighting effects. By using some basic lighting setups, you can add or remove light and shadow to produce effective photographs.
Instructions
1. Determine the location for your "key" light, which provides the bulk of the illumination in your image. Use a photography light or reflect light using a reflector. Aim the key from any position in front of the subject, but generally a 45-degree angle slightly downward on the subject works best.
2. Add a "fill" light to the subject, which fills in the shadow left by the key light and allows more visibility of the subject. Fill lights generally have less intensity than the key light and most often are aimed at a 45-degree angle to the image. Use a photographic light or reflector and ensure that the fill does not shine more brightly than the key.
3. Aim a light or reflector at an angle to the subject from behind. This light is called a "back light." Do not point the back light directly at the camera or it will wash out the exposure and cause lens flares.
4. Aim a light or reflector at the background to create a "background" light, which highlights the background and helps the subject stand out. Aim this light from any angle against the background directly behind the subject.
5. Add a "hair light" when photographing portraits. This light shines down from slightly behind the subject and above, lighting the hair and outlining the face. This light should focus on the hair but leave the face in total darkness. Do not use this light with portraits of bald people as it will produce distracting highlights.
6. Diffuse the light from any of your light sources by placing diffusion material in front of them. This heat-resistant, paper-like material softens the shadows cast on your subject and may suit lights used in portrait or product photography.
7. Alter the color temperature of your light sources by placing colored gels in front of them. Use colors ranging in the normal range of sunlight from blue to orange. Use intense colors to create more intense lighting effects.
Tags: light reflector, This light, your light, 45-degree angle, back light
