portraiture - a practical guide to lighting
TRANSCRIPT
PortraitureA Practical Guide to Lighting
Created by John Wilberforcewww.wilberforcephotography.com
Topics of DiscussionEquipment
Ideal Lenses for Portraiture
Key / Fill / Kicker / Background Lights
Strobe vs Continuous Lighting
Arc of Equal Distance
Light Modifiers
Lighting Ratios
Broad / Short Lighting
EquipmentStrobe or Continuous lights Umbrella Softbox Background and stand Lightstands Chair Ladder Light meter Reflector
Wireless triggers Laptop Tether cable Laptop stand Tripod White balance card / Disc Batteries Camera Film
Lenses for Portraiture
The perfect portrait lens is one that shows the features of the Subject in the most flattering way possible
Use longer lenses in order to “flatten” the image
Avoid wide angle or very short lenses unless you are going for a specific effect/look
Base your lens choice on your Subject, environment, space or other limitations
Always shoot in manual mode
The Key Light
Also referred to as Main Light
Primary light source used to illuminate Subject
All other light’s power outputs are based off of the Key Light
Will provide shadows and depth
Considered the most important light in standard portraiture
The Fill Light
Always less power than the Key Light
Helps reduce shadows of Key Light
Brings out detail
Should not cause its own shadow in a portrait
Oftentimes a reflector is used instead of a Fill Light
The Kicker Light
Usually aimed at Subject from back
Helps to avoid areas of tonal merger (ie. Subject's hair is same color as background)
Often provides a rim or halo effect around Subject
Provides separation between Subject and background
Can be more or less power than Key light
The Background Light
Helps provide separation of background from Subject
Creates a nice finishing touch
Can help bring a boring background to life
A typical lighting set-up
Strobe vs Continuous LightingStrobe Lighting
More accurate color Only on when shutter is released More expensive option Higher burst power Most common type of lighting Can cause dilated pupils in Subject
Continuous Lighting Generates more heat Always on Can be uncomfortable for Subject Less expensive option Shows the "scene" more accurately than strobes
The Arc of Equal Distance
A light moved in an arc of equal distance around a Subject will push the same amount of light onto that subject
When arranging lights, keep this in mind if you don't want to change your exposure
Light Modifiers
Reflector
Snoot
Umbrella
Softbox
Gobo
Gels
Lighting Ratios
Determines the overall contrast of a portrait
Usually the difference in power between Key light and Fill light
Higher contrast portrait will have a higher lighting ratio
Expressed as a ratio of Key to Fill (ie. a 2:1 lighting ratio means that the Key Light is twice as bright as the Fill Light)
Broad LightingLight that falls across the side of the face closest to the camera
Can add weight to a Subject's face
Typically reduces intensity of wrinkles
Short LightingPlaces the Key light to fall on the portion of the Subject's face that is turned away from the camera
Can make a Subject appear more slim
Can accentuate wrinkles
What makes a good portrait?
Eyes in focus
Catchlights visible in eyes
Proper white balance / accurate skin tones
Subject captured in the best way possible
Meets client's requirements
Recap....Equipment
Ideal Lenses for Portraiture
Key / Fill / Kicker / Background Lights
Strobe vs Continuous Lighting
Arc of Equal Distance
Light Modifiers
Lighting Ratios
Broad / Short Lighting
Some good resources.....
www.diyphotography.net
www.strobist.com
YouTube
Lots of good books on studio portraiture
Fellow photographers and club members
Thank You for listening :)