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There are many ways that photographers use lighting in their images. From artificial to natural lighting and all kinds of lighting set ups. Lighting is highly important as it contributes significantly to the mood of an image and therefore how a viewer will feel when looking at it. Below are four types of lighting set ups that can be achieved with a single studio light.
Split Lighting
Split Lighting
Split lighting is named very literally. It "splits" the subjects face in two sections where half is light and half is dark. This high contrast creates juxtaposition and adds drama to a portrait. The effect of split lighting can make a photo more intense, mysterious or even assertive. Because this type of lighting leaves half of a subject’s face in shadows, it is also used for making subjects with wider faces appear narrower. This lighting is used in photography and cinematography (as in the Fight Club example in the middle below).
Loop Lighting
Loop Lighting
These are styles of single light lighting where the light source is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the subject. The circle or “loop” shape that sits just below the nose, is on the opposite side of where you place your light. It is also typically marked by a longer shadow under the chin and jaw due to the downward slope of the light. Loop lighting is one of the most common lighting setups used in portrait photography because it is flattering for most faces. Rembrandt lighting (a type of loop lighting) is identified by creating a small inverted triangle of light on the subject's cheek that is opposite the light source.
Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly Lighting
This is where the key light is placed above and directly centred with a subject's face. This creates a dramatic shadow under the nose and chin that looks like a butterfly. This is also called 'Paramount lighting,' named for the Hollywood studio and how they light glamorous shots of celebrities and actors.
In this video, the presenter shows how using butterfly lighting in his portrait turned him from basic to babe.
Backlighting
Backlighting
This is light that hits a subject from behind, typically higher than the subject it is exposing. Backlighting an object or actor from the background creates more depth and shape to a subject. It can also be used to separate the subject from the background or increase dramatic effect. This technique has frequently been used in horror and thriller cinematography and photography to create an ominous or frightening mood (for example Shutter Island or Nightmare on Elm Street below).
In the image below, comedian Bo Burnham uses back lighting in a song, Can't Handle This, to increase dramatic tension. This is used for comedic effect as he juxtaposes content that is not serious with a serious tone and lighting.
Watch the videos below for further explanation of the lighting set ups and their purposes.
Colour Temperature
Colour Temperature
Definition: Numerical values on the Kelvin scale measure a light source's colour characteristics, ranging from warm to cool colours.
Higher Kelvin values represent cooler tones like blue, while lower values indicate warmer tones like yellow.
Example: A blue sky is measured at 12000 K, whereas candlelight is rated much lower at 1500 K
Colour Temperature Significance
Colour Temperature Significance
Influences the mood and emotions perceived by viewers. See examples below:
Warm
Warm
Historically, warmth has been associated with human survival, particularly for nomadic peoples. Thus, warm tones like red and orange evoke feelings of comfort, happiness, and intimacy, commonly employed in portrait photography for capturing human connections.
Cool
Cool
Cool tones like blue and green instil a sense of calmness, serenity, and tranquillity, often used in landscape photography to convey the peaceful aspects of nature. However, it can also be used to add emphasise drama or depression.
This Task
This Task
This Task
This Task
Use the QR code to open this page on your phone to remind you of the lighting set ups to capture.
For Your Portfolio
For Your Portfolio
In groups of 3 or more, experiment with these lighting set ups and / or colour tones.
Lighting set ups can be completed in the studio or you can also complete them using windows, torches and phone lights as a light source
Colour tone can be affected by experimenting with white balance or using gold / silver reflectors.
Create a page in your process journal called Portrait Lighting and include your images.
C level (ish)
C level (ish)
Accredited: Minimum of two types of lighting set ups
Tertiary: Minimum of three types of lighting set ups
Both:
-Edit the images to your liking – Using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Make exposure and colour adjustments as needed. For basic adjustments, view this video.
-To take the images from Photoshop to your process diary, remember you will need to
File>Export>Export As>JPEG
- Make sure to label them with the lighting set ups that you used.
B level (ish)
B level (ish)
Complete previous steps but do all four lighting set ups
Include some test photos / contact sheets and / or before and after editing and your final images.
Include annotations that explain what you have learned or demonstrated through your lighting set ups. Use the questions at the bottom of this page to guide you.
A level (ish)
A level (ish)
Complete previous steps
Include answers to reflection questions
Accredited: Answer at least four
Tertiary: Answer all the questions in paragraphs
Reflection Questions
Why is lighting important within photographs?
What are some of the purposes you can think of for the different types of lighting set ups?
What mood did you create in your images?
Which of your images do you believe was the most successful? Why?
Which image did you enjoy creating the most? Why?
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