Photography - Studio Lighting

Visible Light

part of the energy spectrum, wavelength from 400-700 nanometers. Shorter wavelengths are blue, longer are red.

Kelvin Temperature

the color of light emitted by a glowing black body when heated. white light measures 5500. 33000 lights in classroom.

Direct Light

the light source is aimed at the subject.

Reflected Light

the light source is first bounced off a surface.

Diffused Light

the light source is aimed at the subject, but first passes through a material which spreads the light and softens it.

Axis Light

the light is aimed at the scene from very close to the camera position.

Angle of Incidence

the angle from which the light is aimed at the surface.

Angle of Reflection

the angle at which the light reflects from the surface.

Inverse Square Law

light intensity is related to distance in a ratio equaling a fraction having the change in distance squared as the denominator. (2² = 1/4)

Brightness Adaptation

our mind’s tendency to see fewer differences between lighting aspects than are really there.

Passive Light

making the scene visible but not acting as an interpretive element.

Active Light

lighting which transforms the scene and alters viewers’ perceptions. (highlights vs shadows)

Incident Meter

is aimed at camera and reads light falling on subject.

Reflected Meter

is aimed at subject and reads light reflecting from it.

Penumbra

shadow edge from light to darkest tone. (seen in falloff)

larger light source will provide softer illumination, creating a shadow with a larger penumbra. a smaller light source yields more contrast, and a smaller penumbra. the closer it is placed. any given light source will create a softer shadow with a larger penumbra (softer shadow edge.) as the light source is moved farther away, the penumbra becomes smaller and the light becomes “harder” (shadow edge becomes harder.)

Proximity

the closer the elements are, the more they aer seen as a single unit…not only closer in space but also closeness when seen from a particular angle.

Similarity

similar shapes, tones, textures, colors, sizes, tend to be seen as related.

Continuity

elements with the fewest number of interruptions will be grouped to form straight or curved lines.

Closure

nearly complete familiar lines and shapes are more readily seen as complete.