Module 2E-PPT

Lighting Techniques

Natural Light

  • Natural light is unpredictable and changes daily.
  • Changes occur with full sun, overcast skies, and heavy cloud cover.
  • Each condition requires a different photographic approach.

Harsh Light

  • Full sun is a hard light source and not well-suited for outdoor portraits because it create harsh and uneven light.
  • Midday sun positioned overhead creates harsh highlights and shadows.
  • A strong fill flash can improve harsh lighting by raising shadow illumination.

Finding the Best Light

  • Photographers should seek open shade or create diffused directional light.

Diffusing Light

  • Translucent panels can modify hard sunlight into a softer light.

Window Light

  • Window light is best when it is soft and indirect (no direct sunlight).
  • Achieve soft window light by:
    • Moving to the side of the building opposite the sun.
    • Using north-facing windows.
  • Translucent fabrics can modify window light when direct sun is present.
  • Reflector fill can help if the lighting contrast is unacceptable.

Mixed Light

  • Mixed light occurs when there are multiple light sources with different color temperatures.
  • An additional light source can overcome the effects of mixed lighting.

Color Correction using Gels

  • Orange tones can be corrected using orange color-correcting gels on the flash.
  • The camera should be set to Tungsten to correct the orange tones.

Color Correcting Filters

  • FLD and FLW Filters:
    • Correct color casts from fluorescent light sources.
    • FLD is for daylight balanced fluorescent tubes.
    • FLW is for warm light balanced fluorescent tubes.
    • Both reduce overtones often present with fluorescent lighting.
  • 80A and 80B Filters:
    • Dark blue filters used to balance tungsten lighting to daylight.
    • Remove the yellowish cast from unfiltered images.
    • 80A is for lights with a color temperature of 3200K3200K.
    • 80B is for 3400K3400K photo flood lights.
  • 81A, 81B, and 81C Filters:
    • Warming filters that offset bluish overtones.
    • Used with overcast lighting or portable flash.
  • CTO (Color to Orange) Filters:
    • Change daylight color balance to an equivalent tungsten value.
    • Available in various shades.
    • Used in mixed lighting (e.g., daylight flash in a tungsten-lit church).
  • CTB (Color to Blue) Filters:
    • Change tungsten color balance to an approximate daylight value.
    • Used with mixed lighting sources like incandescent or hot lights with daylight.

Backlighting

  • Backlighting occurs when the background is brighter than the subject.
  • Strong backlighting can cause the background to blow out, losing detail.
  • Solutions:
    • Add supplemental lighting onto the subject to match the background exposure.
    • Use a fill flash, exposing for the background and matching the flash output.
    • Use a reflector to add illumination to the subject.
    • Use constant lights like LEDs.
    • Select a telephoto lens to isolate the best part of the background.
    • Block light with a gobo or scrim.
    • Take multiple images at different exposures for editing.
    • Allow the background to blow out as a creative decision.

Rim Light

  • Backlighting can create a rim light pattern on the subject’s hair.
  • Isolate the subject against darker parts of the background.

Silhouettes

  • Use backlighting to create strong silhouettes.
  • Measure the brightest part of the background and use that setting on the camera.
  • Isolate the subject against the brightest part of the scene.

Product Photography Lighting

  • Considerations for different types of surfaces:
Reflective Surfaces
  • Require very large light sources.
  • Pay attention to reflections.
  • Use softboxes at close range to capture their white reflection without unwanted distractions.
Transparent Products
  • Benefit from large light sources and backlighting.
  • Light the background and allow it to show through the object.
  • Avoid pinpoint, specular highlights.
  • Use strobes to give the object larger and diffused highlights.
  • Avoid direct flash to prevent glare.
Translucent Products
  • Also benefit from large light sources and reflectors.
  • Use backlighting to define translucency, shape, and form.
Opaque Objects
  • Do not allow light through.
  • Define shape, texture, details, and color.

Soft Lighting

  • Frequently used to showcase products without unwanted shadows.
  • Use large softboxes or translucent scrims for even light with minimal shadows.

Softbox Sizes

  • A large softbox can skim light across the front of the object.
  • Soft shadows provide depth and three-dimensionality.
  • Use white foam core as a reflector to bounce back light for even lighting.