Friday, October 16, 2015

Basic Types of Lighting in Photography

If you wish to take compelling and attractive photographs, a proper understanding of lighting techniques is crucial. Carefully considered use of certain techniques can enhance the clarity of your pictures, hide flaws, or establish a desired mood. Here are five basic types of lighting that you will find useful when taking photographs, whether in the studio or on location.

Front Lighting

    Front lighting is accomplished by lighting the subject directly from the front or, in the case of outdoors photography, by taking the picture with the sun to your back. This form of lighting is good for accentuating details in your photograph, but has the often-undesirable effect of giving your subjects a flat and uninteresting look.

Side Lighting

    Side lighting is a useful alternative to front lighting. Lighting your subject from an angle will create shadows, resulting in more intriguing and artistic-looking photographs. Shadows provide the eye with additional information, creating the illusion of depth. Varying the angle at which the light shines will produce different results, and a little experimentation may produce new and interesting effects.

Back Lighting

    Back lighting is often used to create a silhouette effect by placing a light source behind the subject. It is also effective when taking pictures of people who are standing in direct sunlight or otherwise harsh light. People will often squint when facing a bright light, and this is easily remedied by turning them away from the light. Reflected light or a fill flash will help in reducing shadows caused by back lighting, where desired.

Three-point Lighting

    Three-point lighting is a combination of front, side and back lighting. The front, or key, light is the primary means of illuminating the subject (in outdoor photography, the sun is generally used as the key light). The side, or fill, light is used to generate shadows, and you can vary this light's angle and strength for different stylistic effects. The back light is used to help make the subject stand out from the background of the photograph.

Diffuse Lighting

    Diffuse lighting results in a softer light that can generate dramatic effects and often preserves details that would be lost in bright sunlight or under harsh artificial lights. This type of lighting occurs naturally during the early morning and late afternoon hours, and is prevalent on cloudy days. You can generate your own diffuse lighting effects by placing a softbox in front of your light source or through the use of a reflective umbrella.


If you wish to take compelling and attractive photographs, a proper understanding of lighting techniques is crucial. Carefully considered use of certain techniques can enhance the clarity of your pictures, hide flaws, or establish a desired mood. Here are five basic types of lighting that you will find useful when taking photographs, whether in the studio or on location.

Front Lighting

    Front lighting is accomplished by lighting the subject directly from the front or, in the case of outdoors photography, by taking the picture with the sun to your back. This form of lighting is good for accentuating details in your photograph, but has the often-undesirable effect of giving your subjects a flat and uninteresting look.

Side Lighting

    Side lighting is a useful alternative to front lighting. Lighting your subject from an angle will create shadows, resulting in more intriguing and artistic-looking photographs. Shadows provide the eye with additional information, creating the illusion of depth. Varying the angle at which the light shines will produce different results, and a little experimentation may produce new and interesting effects.

Back Lighting

    Back lighting is often used to create a silhouette effect by placing a light source behind the subject. It is also effective when taking pictures of people who are standing in direct sunlight or otherwise harsh light. People will often squint when facing a bright light, and this is easily remedied by turning them away from the light. Reflected light or a fill flash will help in reducing shadows caused by back lighting, where desired.

Three-point Lighting

    Three-point lighting is a combination of front, side and back lighting. The front, or key, light is the primary means of illuminating the subject (in outdoor photography, the sun is generally used as the key light).

    Enhance your photography skill,The Top Secret Photography Techniques

    . The side, or fill, light is used to generate shadows, and you can vary this light's angle and strength for different stylistic effects. The back light is used to help make the subject stand out from the background of the photograph.

Diffuse Lighting

    Diffuse lighting results in a softer light that can generate dramatic effects and often preserves details that would be lost in bright sunlight or under harsh artificial lights. This type of lighting occurs naturally during the early morning and late afternoon hours, and is prevalent on cloudy days. You can generate your own diffuse lighting effects by placing a softbox in front of your light source or through the use of a reflective umbrella.



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