Lighting for Portrait and Interview Setups Ian Feinberg Chattahoochee Technical College (770) 509-6327 Ifeinberg@chattcollege.com
Key to Effective Lighting: Shadow Shadow gives images form, weight, texture, mood, depth. Also reveals spatial relationships.
3 considerations before lighting Key light placement – 180 degrees around subject Quality of light – hard or soft Shadow treatment – low key or high key
Try to separate subject from background
3 results of light hitting object
Typical 3 point lighting diagram
3 Attributes of Key Light Primary source of illumination Primary factor of overall exposure Determines placement and quality of shadow
Floor plan of Portrait Key Light Possibilities
Quality of Light Refers to hard or soft quality of light “Pin” or undiffused sources create hard shadows that fall off sharply Soft light is created by using large sources of diffused light. Determined by two attributes Large source Relatively close to subject
Subject lit from 3:00 Position
Subject lit from 4:00 Position
Subject lit from 4:30 Position
Subject lit from 6:00 Position
Functions of Fill Light Fills shadows created by key light Does not create new shadow
Adding Fill for Portrait Lighting
Fill Light Without Fill With Fill
Backlight Hard backlight Soft Backlight
Background With Background Without Background
Hard vs. Soft Key Light Hard Soft
Relative Distance of Soft Light Source Close Far
Lighting Dark Skin with Large Sources of Light Pin Light Source Large Diffused Source
One Light Setup Use available Light from existing window
One-Light Setup Available Light One-Light Setup
One-Light Setup Light directly in front Short Side of Face
Color Balance Color Temps Mixing Key light with color correction
Warming the Scene Normal Color Balance Tricking Camera to Produce Warmer Tones
Using Backlight as Key
Use Large sources for Specular Reflections
Backlight as Key Creates Form, Depth, Dynamic Images
Lighting for Portrait and Interview Setups Ian Feinberg Chattahoochee Technical College (770) 509-6327 Ifeinberg@chattcollege.com