Metering
Exposure is critical to producing fine portraits, so it is essential to meter the scene properly. Using the in-camera light meter may not always give you consistent and accurate results. In-camera meters measure reflected light and are designed to suggest an exposure setting that will Marcus Bell used classic low-key lighting to create this intense portrait for his Faces of Queensland book project. Marcus helped the ratio by lowering the exposure settings in RAW mode and by later vignetting the...
Mastering One Light
If you want to improve your location-portrait lighting techniques drastically in a relatively short time, learn to use one light to do the job of many. One light can effectively model the features of a single subject or small group with relative ease. Whether you own strobe, portable, or studio-flash equipment, tungsten or quartz- left Jeff Kolodny makes it a point to photograph the decorations prior to the guests arriving at the reception. This beautiful scene was lit by daylight, ambient room...
Basic Portrait Lights
These lighting techniques can be done with very basic equipment. A full set of four lights with stands and parabolic reflectors can be purchased quite reasonably. The lights can be electronic flash units or they may be incandescent lights. The latter is preferred in learning situa- The portrait lighting pattern is defined by one light, the main light. Here, in a striking bridal formal by Martin Schembri, a single shaft of light above and to the side of the bride created the classic Rembrandt...
The Five Basic PortraitLighting Setups
As you progress through the following lighting setups, from Paramount to split lighting, keep in mind that each pattern progressively makes the face slimmer. Each also progressively brings out more texture in the face because the light is moved father and farther to the side. As you read through the lighting styles, you'll also notice that the key light mimics the course of the sun across the sky at first it is high, then it gradually grows lower in relation to the subject. It is important that...
Lighting Group Portraits
A common location assignment involves photographing a group of people a family reunion at the family home, executives in a boardroom, employees at a factory, etc. Types of Lights. Umbrella lights are the best choice for lighting large groups. Usually, the umbrellas are positioned on either side of the camera, equidistant between the group and the camera so the light is even. The lights should be feathered so there is no hot center to the lighting. These units should also be slaved with either...
The Color of Light
When we look at a visible light source, it appears to be colorless or white. However, it is actually a mixture of left Nancy Emmerich created this beautiful image of the Denver City Hall decked out for the Christmas holidays. She used a Mamiya RB67 and 37mm lens. The image was exposed for 30 seconds at f 16 on Fuchichrome Velvia ISO 50 transparency film. She has not only photographed the beautifully lit building, but the light sources as well. facing page Laser light is monochromatic, coherent,...
What Is Light
Light is energy that travels in waves. Waves are a form of energy that usually move through a medium, like air or water. For example, imagine the ripples in a swimming pool after someone has jumped in. Is it the water that is moving or something else Actually, the water in the pool stays pretty much stationary. Instead, it is the energy the wave caused by the person jumping into the pool that is moving. Light waves are different than water waves, however, in that they don't require a medium...
Fuzzy Duenkels One Two and ThreeLight Setups
Fuzzy Duenkel is well known for his sophisticated senior portraits. While he transports his studio-lighting setups to make stunning portraits in the subject's home, these techniques are equally applicable to studio shoots. As you'll see, Fuzzy's lighting technique differs significantly from the traditional portrait lighting setups described above, yet there are similarities. He uses one key light with ample fill. He also uses a background light and kickers what he calls edge lights to...
Types of Studio Strobes and Accessories
Here are some variations in strobes and the accessories used to modify the quality and quantity of light output. Barebulb. When the reflector is removed from the flash head, you have a barebulb light source. The light scatters in every direction 360 degrees. Removing the reflector has advantages if you have to place a light in a confined area. Some photographers use a barebulb flash as a background light for a portrait setting, positioning the light on a small floor stand directly behind the...
The Intensity of Light
Another characteristic of light has to do with intensity. Illumination from a light source declines considerably over distance, which is to say that the light grows weaker as the distance increases between the light source and the subject. Light from sources other than the sun see sidebar to the left falls off predictably in its intensity. Put precisely, the Inverse Square Law states that the reduction or increase in illumination on a subject is inversely proportionate to the square of the...
The Behavior of Light
Unless it is traveling though a vacuum, the medium alters how light behaves. Four different things can happen to light waves when they hit a non-vacuum medium the left Reflective objects like rings are extremely difficult to photograph well. Chris LaLonde created this image by first photographing the background and flower stems out of focus with a 50mm f 1.4 lens. The rings, held in place with hot glue, were photographed separately and in groups on a white background using a Kodak SLR n digital...
About The Author
Bill Hurter started out in photography in 1972 in Washington, DC, where he was a news photographer. He even covered the political scene including the Watergate hearings. After graduating with a BA in literature from American University in 1972, he completed training at the Brooks Institute of Photography in 1975. Going on to work at Petersen's PhotoGraphic magazine, he held practically every job except art director. He has been the owner of his own creative agency, shot stock, and worked...