Saturday, January 16, 2016

Sculpting With Light Techniques for Portrait Photographers

Sculpting With Light Techniques for Portrait Photographers

When a photographer uses light to capture a person's image, the result is a snapshot. But when lighting is raised to the level of an art, the result is a portrait. Sculpting, also called modeling, is accomplished by placing lights in different positions and at varying heights. The resulting shadows add dimension and interest to the face, and can create a more flattering photograph. Typically, these effects are created by using three lights: the key, or main light; the fill light; and the rim or hair light.

Rembrandt Lighting

    Rembrandt, or closed loop lighting, illuminates the side of the face farthest from the camera while casting a nose shadow that meets the shadow on the opposite cheek, leaving a triangle of light on the side of the face closest to the camera. This lighting style is often used in high-contrast portraits and mimics the lighting technique captured in Rembrandt's portrait paintings. To achieve this effect, position the key light about 45 degrees around the far side of the subject, and raise it until it is pointed down at your subject at a 45-degree angle. You may need to make fine adjustments to the light placement depending on the shape of your subject's face. The fill light should be behind the camera or as near to the camera as possible, and the back light should be placed behind and slightly above your subject so that it glances off the subject's hair and far shoulder without adding any additional light to the face. This lighting technique is best accomplished with a hard key and a soft fill.

Open Loop Lighting

    Open loop or short lighting casts a nose shadow that's shorter than the one in a Rembrandt triangle. The photographer accomplishes open loop lighting by placing the key light on the far side of the subject so that it illuminates the short side of the face and part of the near side. Place the fill and the back light in the same positions as for Rembrandt portraiture, and move the fill closer to and farther from the subject until you are pleased with the contrast between the lighted and shadowed parts of the face.

Broad Lighting

    Accomplish broad lighting by placing the key light around the near side of the subject, so that the light illuminates the side of the subject's face that is facing the camera as well as most of the far side. A definite nose shadow is cast, but the loop should never close. Because this lighting illuminates more of the face than any other type, it is offers very little facial concealment and is best for subjects with narrow faces. If you are set up to do open loop lighting, you can change to broad lighting by simply turning the subject toward the other side of the camera.

Butterfly Lighting

    Butterfly lighting is considered a beauty lighting and is often used on models. The goal is to create a small, butterfly-shaped shadow directly under the nose. To accomplish this, place the key light directly in front of the subject's face, and raise it high enough to point down at the subject at a 45-degree angle. When a small shadow appears directly below the nose, the lighting is correct. Because soft light smooths and beautifies the female complexion more than hard light, it is often used for this lighting setup. The fill light may be directly underneath the key or slightly offset to fill in the shadowed side of the face.

Split Lighting

    Split lighting is dramatic and is used less frequently than the other lighting techniques. However, it can be very effective in evoking feelings of mystery or drama, especially when a high contrast ratio is used. To use this lighting technique, place the key light 90 degrees to one side of the subject. A hard light is usually best because the photographer can control the beam and keep it from spilling over onto the opposite side of the face. The goal of split lighting is to have one side of the face lighted and the other side of the face completely in shadow.


Sculpting With Light Techniques for Portrait Photographers

When a photographer uses light to capture a person's image, the result is a snapshot. But when lighting is raised to the level of an art, the result is a portrait. Sculpting, also called modeling, is accomplished by placing lights in different positions and at varying heights. The resulting shadows add dimension and interest to the face, and can create a more flattering photograph. Typically, these effects are created by using three lights: the key, or main light; the fill light; and the rim or hair light.

Rembrandt Lighting

    Rembrandt, or closed loop lighting, illuminates the side of the face farthest from the camera while casting a nose shadow that meets the shadow on the opposite cheek, leaving a triangle of light on the side of the face closest to the camera. This lighting style is often used in high-contrast portraits and mimics the lighting technique captured in Rembrandt's portrait paintings. To achieve this effect, position the key light about 45 degrees around the far side of the subject, and raise it until it is pointed down at your subject at a 45-degree angle. You may need to make fine adjustments to the light placement depending on the shape of your subject's face. The fill light should be behind the camera or as near to the camera as possible, and the back light should be placed behind and slightly above your subject so that it glances off the subject's hair and far shoulder without adding any additional light to the face. This lighting technique is best accomplished with a hard key and a soft fill.

Open Loop Lighting

    Open loop or short lighting casts a nose shadow that's shorter than the one in a Rembrandt triangle. The photographer accomplishes open loop lighting by placing the key light on the far side of the subject so that it illuminates the short side of the face and part of the near side. Place the fill and the back light in the same positions as for Rembrandt portraiture, and move the fill closer to and farther from the subject until you are pleased with the contrast between the lighted and shadowed parts of the face.

Broad Lighting

    Accomplish broad lighting by placing the key light around the near side of the subject, so that the light illuminates the side of the subject's face that is facing the camera as well as most of the far side. A definite nose shadow is cast, but the loop should never close. Because this lighting illuminates more of the face than any other type, it is offers very little facial concealment and is best for subjects with narrow faces. If you are set up to do open loop lighting, you can change to broad lighting by simply turning the subject toward the other side of the camera.

Butterfly Lighting

    Butterfly lighting is considered a beauty lighting and is often used on models. The goal is to create a small, butterfly-shaped shadow directly under the nose. To accomplish this, place the key light directly in front of the subject's face, and raise it high enough to point down at the subject at a 45-degree angle. When a small shadow appears directly below the nose, the lighting is correct. Because soft light smooths and beautifies the female complexion more than hard light, it is often used for this lighting setup. The fill light may be directly underneath the key or slightly offset to fill in the shadowed side of the face.

Split Lighting

    Split lighting is dramatic and is used less frequently than the other lighting techniques. However, it can be very effective in evoking feelings of mystery or drama, especially when a high contrast ratio is used. To use this lighting technique, place the key light 90 degrees to one side of the subject. A hard light is usually best because the photographer can control the beam and keep it from spilling over onto the opposite side of the face. The goal of split lighting is to have one side of the face lighted and the other side of the face completely in shadow.



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