Written Assignment
- Name three lighting sources and their functions.
- Name two light modifiers and explain the difference between them.
- Draw a diagram of and describe the three-point lighting setup.
Key light; this is your main light on the model or object that has the most influence on your picture. This lights up the most of the model from one side and makes a harsh shadow and defining highlights, this can be a monolight, a flash or natural light. With only using this light in a creative way you can get a nice effect.
Fill light; this light is used in conjunction with your key light. You use this light to open up the shadows at the other side of your subject, and to cut down on the scene contrast.
Separation light; also called hair light. This light is often used if you have a dark subject against a dark background. The light comes from behind and lights up your subject from behind and making a good contrast.
Umbrella:
An umbrella makes soft light and is good to use if you want to light a large area. You have different umbrellas, gold, and silver, white. The functions of using different colored umbrellas are to give the photo a different look. Gold gives the object a warmer look, and of course, the silver one gives the object a cooler look. Umbrellas are often used in events; they are very good to use when you want too light groups people, and to have the same amount of light and the same light on them all. The umbrella bounces of the light in different directions, this gives the object a softer look, and with less shadows, or with no shadows at all.
Soft box:
Soft boxes diffuse the light, and make it soft and even. The light coming from the strobe or the speed light is bounced around the fabric in the soft box, and is spread in all directions inside the box. The light in the soft box are spread even, from top to bottom of the box. A soft box comes in several of shapes and sizes. A soft box is a light modifier.
Research Assignment
- Draw three studio setups for the following subject matters and list all the equipment that you would use to light your subjects:-Portrait-Fashion-Beauty
- In a magazine or on the Internet, find one fashion shot, a beauty shot and a portrait shot and explain how you think the lighting was set up in each shot.
Portrait – By using a backlight and softbox, it gives a softer look and smooth shadows agains a white or black backdrop.
Beauty – Soft box in directly in front of the model, with the use of a reflector to get rid of any shadows, and to even out the light. This is important when you want to showcast make up.
Fashion – A big soft box on the side of the model to create dramatic lighting and shadows. In fashion photos experimenting with the use of lighting is very common.
It is clear that the lighting technique used here is coming from one side, which is the left. This is giving the shot a more dynamic and dramatic feel. It is also giving the photo nice shadows and contrast.
Practical AssignmentsTake some portrait shots and pay specific attention to the lighting you use. I would like to see a shot with soft lighting and one with more dramatic, harder lighting. It would be beneficial to hire studio lighting, but if you can’t, you may use natural light, reflectors and your camera’s flash.
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