Basic (very) Studio Lighting

1. Basic (very) Studio Lighting Equipment and techniques

2. Types of Lighting equipment Strobes (flash!) Floods (constantly on) Hot Lights (constantly on… and very hot. Duh.)

3. Direct Lighting Sources On/off camera flash Light source origin at or near the photographer Characteristics Occasionally harsh shadows on background Snapshot aesthetic(produced from consumer-based on-camera flashes)

4. Direct Lighting

5. Top Lighting Sources Light source is positioned directly or nearly above the subject Light source origin does not have to be where the photographer is situated (front, behind, to the side) Characteristics Top lighting usually casts harsh shadows on a subject. If the subject is a person, top-lighting will accentuate facial features and cast harsh shadows underneath the eyes, nose, cheeks, and mouth

6. Top Lighting

7. Back Lighting Sources Light source is positioned directly or nearly BEHIND the subject Characteristics Back lighting will often cast a “halo” around the subject Since the primary light source is located behind the subject, Direct lighting or any other form of lighting (fill-flash, reflectors, etc.) can be used to fill in the subject while still preserving the “halo”

8. Back Lighting

9. Diffused Lighting Sources Diffused light can be achieved in the studio through the use of soft boxes and umbrellas attached to strobes and floods. Sunlight can be diffused through the use of certain shades (also called diffusers) Characteristics Less harsh shadows Even lighting across the whole subject/scene

10. Diffused Lighting

11. Drawing with light Sources Drawing with light is achieved through long exposures Flashlights, laser pointers, or any other moveable source of light can be used to draw with light Characteristics Trails of light visible in picture Most often scene in long exposures of traffic

12. Drawing with light

13. Helpful Tip You can (and are encouraged to) combine any of these scenarios to achieve the result you want