Portrait Lighting, part 1

We will be exploring common light placement for portraits, as well as the effects of different light sources.

Read: Pages 193-206 (up to "Additional Lights")

We will explore three common light directions, plus one "experimental" direction that you come up with. For review, read the book for descriptions and positioning.

• Rembrandt ("Key Triangle" in book)
• Broad Lighting
• Short Lighting
• ?????

We will stick to a single light source to really isolate what it is doing. For each of the above, explore the effects of:

• Strobe with reflector, perhaps barn doors
• Umbrella, reflected, white
• Umbrella, reflected, silver
• Umbrella, shoot through
• Soft box
• Use a reflector, if desired, to control shadow density
• For the umbrella or softbox, try some variations changing the distance from light to the subject. Note that this effectively changes the light size.

Be sure to meter each time the light source is changed or modified. This step is very important.

When you evaluate your work, make note of the visual effects created by the different light sources. How do they change how the subject appears? How do they affect mood or a sense of drama? What would you use for a formal portrait versus something more "expressive". Prepare to share and discuss in class.