And Then There Was Light
Whether shooting in a studio or taking portraits outdoors, there is
one element that is critical to producing a good or bad photo, and that
is lighting. It is a universal truth that te amount, type, and direction
of lighting can either hide flaws or enhance the natural beauty of the
subject.
Glamour photographers, especially those working mostly in studios,
should master the four main techniques of lighting that can be used with
different types of lights such as hot lights or strobe lights.
Broad Lighting
The first lighting style is broad lighting, where the main light is
directed toward the side of the face that is nearest the camera. This
technique is often used to de-emphasize prominent facial features and
also to make a small face appear larger and narrow faces wider.
Short Lighting
To accentuate the contours of subject's face, short lighting or
narrow lighting is used. This lighting style has a slimming effect that
benefits models with round or fat faces. The narrowing is achieved by
illuminating the side of the face that is farthest from the cam.
Butterfly Lighting
A dramatic and more emotional look for women can be created by
positioning the main light source directly in front of the model and in
line with the nose to create a shadow. Butterfly lighting usually lends
a subdued and softer effect on women's features. This technique is not
advisable to be used with men, though, as it often highlights the ears
(which are usually covered by hair in women), creating a not-so-pleasant
outcome in the photos.
Rembrandt Lighting
The most artistic of the four techniques is Rembrandt Lighting, a
combination of butterfly lighting and short lighting, where the main
light is placed above the side of the face that is turned away from the
camera. This positioning creates a light triangle that illuminates the
area under the eye of the side closest to the camera.
How to Catch the Catch lights
Catch lights are the twinkle on the subject's eyes when photographs.
They are actually highlights drawn from a light source. Catch lights
make the subject come alive and look radiant. Without the glint or
spark, the eyes usually look dark and lifeless, which is undesirable in
glamour photos.
Catch lights may be achieved by positioning the main light about 45
degrees from the camera and just slightly above the subject. The perfect
catch lights will be either in one o'clock or eleven o'clock position.
When the four techniques are mastered, professional glamour
photographers usually develop their own lighting styles that will give
them the look and feel that they desire. They may reposition the lights
or combine two or three or all of the basic lighting styles. Some
photographers also illuminate the background by placing the light close
to the ground to add more depth to the picture and make the model pop
out.
Mastery of lighting techniques in indoor glamour photography is
actually just a matter of constant practice and experimentation. |
