Lighting

Understanding light in photography depends on where the natural or artificial light source is placed. And more than anything, doing this has an impact on the final image. Lighting a subject from behind typically results in a flat photograph with little to no depth or contour.

• Natural light
• Artificial light

Natural light

Natural light refers to the ambient light supplied by the sun or moon. Natural light is also taken to include lights you'd find naturally in the environment, such as street lights, lamps.

Artificial light

Artificial light, such as flash or studio lights, is usually a mixed and filtered light source, which means that it produces muted colors and soft details. However, artificial light is also controlled by the photographer, which means that it can be adjusted and customized according to the desired effect.

Lighting methods

• Direct light

Direct light is a light where no obstacle is between the light source and the subject. The light rays all go in the same direction and are completely rectilinear from their point of departure to their destination.

• Side light

Side lighting is light that falls on a subject at roughly ninety degrees to the camera. This means that one side of a subject will be lit and the other side will be in shadow. In terms of helping to convey a subject's shape and form this is ideal

• Back light

Backlighting means that you compose your pictures so that the primary light source is behind your subject. This can add a unique atmosphere to your photos while emphasizing the subject. Backlight works as a dramatic effect that adds contrast and separates the subject from the background.

• background light

A background light is used to illuminate the background area of a set. The background light will also provide separation between the subject and the background. Many lighting setups follow a three-point lighting or four-point lighting setup.

• Top light

Top lighting when the source of light is above the object being shot. Bottom lighting – when it is below the object. Side lighting – when it is to the side. Front lighting – at the front, and back lighting or contra-jour, when the source of light is behind the object which we are shooting.

• Rim light

A rim light is placed behind a subject that exposes the outline or rim of the subject with light. This lighting highlights the contours of a subject and creates a dramatic and mysterious effect.

Key light and fill light are essential components in lighting setups used in photography, cinematography, and other visual media production. They are crucial in shaping and enhancing the appearance of the subject being photographed or filmed.

• Key light
• Fill light

Key light

The key light is the primary or main source of illumination in a lighting setup. It's typically the brightest and most prominent light and is positioned to illuminate the subject from a specific direction. The purpose of the key light is to provide the primary illumination, define the subject's shape and features, and establish the overall mood or tone of the scene. The key light is often placed at a 45-degree angle from the camera and slightly above the subject to create dimension and shadows.

Fill light

The fill light is used to reduce the contrast created by the key light by filling in the shadows and providing a more even lighting on the subject. It's usually softer and less intense than the key light. The fill light helps to illuminate the areas that the key light may cast in shadow, creating a more balanced and natural appearance. The position and intensity of the fill light can be adjusted to control the level of shadowing and contrast in the scene.

❖ There is always only one key light.
❖ Fill light is always less light than key light.

Modifiers for Studio Lighting

1. Soft box

A soft box is a fabric-lined box with a diffuser panel in front of a light source. It produces soft, diffused light that minimizes harsh shadows and highlights. Soft boxes come in various shapes and sizes.

2. Umbrella:

Umbrellas are versatile and affordable modifiers that spread light and create a softer, more even illumination. They come in reflective (bounce) and shoot-through types.

3. Beauty Dish:

A beauty dish is a round, shallow, and flat reflective dish with a center-mounted light source. It provides a softer light compared to bare bulbs and creates a pleasing, slightly specular highlight in the eyes.

4. Reflector:

Reflectors bounce light back onto the subject, filling in shadows and reducing contrast. They come in various colors and finishes to produce different effects.

5. Grid:

A grid is a honeycomb-like structure that attaches to a modifier (e.g., soft box, beauty dish) to narrow and control the light's spread, focusing it on a specific area.

6. Snoot:

A snoot is a tube-like accessory that narrows the light beam, creating a spotlight effect and allowing precise lighting control.

7. Barndoor:

Barndoors are adjustable flaps attached to the front of a light source, allowing you to shape and direct the light by controlling its spread.

8. Gel:

Gels are colored filters that can be placed over the light source to change the color temperature or create artistic lighting effects.

9. Honeycomb Grid:

Similar to a grid, a honeycomb grid is a grid made of hexagonal cells that narrows the light beam and provides directional control.

10. Diffusion Panel:

A diffusion panel is a translucent fabric or material placed in front of a light source to soften and spread the light, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more even illumination.

Flashers

A flash is a device used in photography that produces a brief burst of light (typically lasting 1/1000 to 1/200 of a second) at a color temperature of about 5500 K [citation needed] to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a dark scene. Other uses are capturing quickly moving objects or changing the quality of light. Flash refers either to the flash of light itself or to the electronic flash unit discharging the light. Most current flash units are electronic, having evolved from single-use flashbulbs and flammable powders. Modern cameras often activate flash units automatically.

Guide number

A number used to indicate flash power, defining the distance at which optimal exposure will be achieved with the flash at full power.

The formula is,
                      "Guide Number = Subject Distance from Flash × f-stop"

Synchronizing speed

High-speed sync (HSS) allows you to sync the light from a flash when using a shutter speed faster than your camera's native sync. We know that most DSLRs have a native sync speed of 1/250th of a second. Anything faster is beyond the camera's ability to sync with flash.