Lighting Techniques Photojournalism

For each of the following photos, how does the lighting affect the subject and the photo’s mood?

Aysen Tan, Foothill Dragon Press

Bethany Fankhauser, Foothill Dragon Press

The Pix Yearbook - Little Rock, Arkansas

The Pix Yearbook - Little Rock, Arkansas

The Pix Yearbook - Little Rock, Arkansas

Trevor Kjellberg, Maize (Kan.) High School

Types of Lighting

Front Light Alys Gomez, Holton High School

Side Light Abby Heitzman, Holton High School

Back Light Atlanta ISD Yearbook Staff

Open Shade Lore Staff

Window Light Alys Gomez, Holton High School

Tips for Improving Lighting

Broad light sources give a softer light (The sun is big, but it’s a narrow source of light. Clouds help to diffuse that light to make it softer)

Close light sources give a softer light (The farther away the light source is, the harsher the light)

Bounce light to make it softer (Aim a narrow light source, like a light bulb, at a wall. This will cause the light to spread out and become softer)

Light a subject to cause the background to be less distinct (Moving a light close to your subject will create a bigger separation between your subject and the background)

To emphasize texture, light from above, below, or the side (Lighting from the front will de-emphasize texture)