This is an example of how powerful lighting can be to a photograph and how a slight change of time can really benefit somebodys photography. I got this source from The Importance of Light in Photography from website: http://www.photographyblogger.net/the-importance-of-light-in-photography/.As you can tell taking the photograph which was taken at 7.39 looks striking and emotive, the use of colour creates drama and life within in the photograph. However when the same location was captured at 7.48 (just 9 minutes later) the whole photo looks completely different; it just looks like a simple, odinary image with no professional aspect to it even though both photos were taken by the same person, same camera the only difference was the lighting. Which shows how powertful lighting can be.
Defintion of Photography
Photography is the art or process of capturing real life images with a photosensitive source. Photography is a method of permanently recording photographs through the action of light projected by the lens in a camera onto usually film or different light-sensitive sources. Photography can completed through multiple sources including, a film camera, digitial camera, camera phone and video camera.
I intend to show different types of lighting through my photographs including, hard and soft lighting. Aswell as how siloutettes add to an image.
The Areas I will look at include:
- Hard and soft light - the difference
- Three point lighting - studio set up
- Silhouette - shooting into the sun
- Light direction
- White balance
- I will include research into colour and their meanings.
Hard and soft light
Light sources are what is used for the lighting in a photograph. Lighting is essentially what makes an image and without at least a slight bit of lighting the photograph would be nothing, you wouldnt be able to see anything and it would be so dark and unprofessional looking. Alot of lighting used is from natural lighting like the sun but often people use other sources of light to improve the photograph which is artificial. Different types of articifical light sources include; incandescent, flourescent, LED and strobe lighting.
Difference between hard and soft light
Hard light is used mostly to create definition within a photograph. The hard light focuses on one main element and makes everything else around it slightly blurred out or not in focus. Hard light on a photograph creates shapes and lines which can sometimes be unforgiving.
Soft lighting is used mostly to create a beautiful and flattering photograph with the use of a soft light. This type of lighting is mostly used on young or old females as the light is flattering enough to hide blemishes and flaws.
This is an example of hard and soft light. The photograph on the left was taken in hard light, this lighting isn't the most flattering as most flaws are on show; this lighting isn't ideal for females inperticular as doesn't compliment the face and make you look youthful. Whereas the photo on the right is a complete contrast and the lighting actually makes her look a lot younger. Due to the lighting being so soft all flaws are covered which is very flattering.
My Examples of hard and soft lighting
Soft Lighting
This image was taken in Portsmouth during daytime on a summery day. It was just a random shot I toke as I hadn't planned a photo-shoot. but I liked the soft lighting which was created through the natural sunlight. I tried to demonstrative a contrast between a main focus (being the cages and rope) against a blur from the background.
This image was taken on a photo-shoot for my Moda magazine, because these images were specifically for my front cover I want to choose a lighting which was most flattering as the front cover is the first thing you see, also the genre of magazine was fashion. I demonstrated soft lighting in this photo through a fluorescent lighting as I toke photos inside a room, I like how the lighting doesn't look to artificial and fake.
Hard Lighting
This image was taken one day when I was at the beach. I decided to take this photo as I really liked how the sun shines through the clouds and over the top of the beach huts. I used natural lighting from the sun which essentially was hard lighting as you can clearly see the beach, sand and beach huts because the lighting wasn't soft enough to make parts of the photo less visible.
This photo was randomly taken on the photo-shoot for my Moda magazine. I like this photo as I feel it's really natural and nothing is staged about it. Also the lighting improves the photo. The lighting used is soft light which is the most appealing and flattering for portrait photography as it covers up any flaws.
Three Point Lighting
This is a diagram of three point lighting in photography.
Key Light
Main light and usually the strongest. It also is the most influential light on the scene of the photo-shoot. Its always placed one side of the camera so that the other side has enough light and also includes some shadow.
Fill Light
Second light and placed opposite of the key light. Its purpose is to fill the shadows created by the key light. Fill is a lot softer and not so bright as the key.
Back Light
Back light is placed the subject and lights from the other side rather than direct lighting (which is like the key and fill). Its main job is to cause definition and a highlight around the subject. It helps separate the subject to the background and also creates a three-dimensional look.
Health and safety consideration is important when using lighting in photography. If your going to use lighting you have to make sure its placed in a safe location where theirs nothing around it which could catch fire.
Examples of my own studio photography
The model in this photo is my friend Chloe and I used fluorescent lighting.
The model in this photo is my friend Chelsea and I used fluorescent lighting.
The model in this photo is Jude and a used fluorescent lighting.
Light Direction
High front light: this lighting makes most of the main focus. Creates a well lit photograph and on a sunny day brings out the colours of the main focus.
Front light: this lighting illuminates the main focus and the flash is most often used aswell. It lights the entire main focus and the lack of shadows through the lighting makes it the easiest lighting to work with.
Side light: this light separates the main focus and background. It also conveys texture and depth.
Back light: this lighting comes from behind the main focus. It creates silhouettes and dramatic shadows in landscapes.
Example of light direction
Drawing with light: often people use lighting actually in the photograph rather then just an element in the background to improve an image. Professionally its termed as 'light painting' and is a photographic technique where exposures are created through moving hand-held light sources.
Darren Pearson
Darren is a light painting photographer and creates wonderful photos simply through LED lighting.
Silhouette Shots
In photography a silhouette is defined as a dark black outline that appears against a light background. Its commonly seen as a black shape which is mostly a shadow of a human. It can be used for creating mystery in a photograph as this shadow could be represent the unidentified, beware of the unknown. We are usually told to take photos of the sun behind us in order to get the most consistent results. However if you shoot towards to the sun it often creates interesting photographic effects such as silhouettes.
Example of a silhouette shot
This silhouette shot was taken by famous photographer TJ Scott who specializes in silhouette photography. The lighting effect adds to the photograph as the silhouette of the roller coaster looks really interesting against the sunrise background.
Example of my own silhouette
This is my example of a silhouette shot, I tried to create a silhouette from the beach huts so directly to the photo facing the sun. I think I was effective as theirs a clear silhouette and I like the contrast from the beach huts and the sun/sky.
White Balance
White balance is a camera setting which lets you adjust lighting in order to make white objects in the photos appear white.
White balance is effective as it changes photos which are dull and lifeless to being bright and having colour to them. White balance in a way adds life to images.
Colour Temperature
Colour temperature is a characteristic in photography which refers to a light source. Low colour temperature is more warmer colours starting from yellow to red light like candle flames and light bulbs. High colour temperature is more colder colours like dark blues and light blues. For example clear blue sky. Colour temperature is usually measured on Kelvin (K) which a typical colour temperature chat.
Colour Meaning
Some would say that colour is the most important factor in photography. It can be used to create completely different moods and emotions, it also shows warmth and coldness. Often photographers show a story through the use of colour; for example if you take a photo of a cold Winters day the use of dark colours like black and blue show the story of the photo and emphasises the meaning.
This is a colour meaning chart and shows what words connotate which colours. Often photographers would use colours to represent different words, for example if someone wanted to show danger they'd take a photo with a strong influence of red.
Colour Wheel
My Examples of hard and soft lighting
Soft Lighting
Hard Lighting
Three Point Lighting
This is a diagram of three point lighting in photography.
Main light and usually the strongest. It also is the most influential light on the scene of the photo-shoot. Its always placed one side of the camera so that the other side has enough light and also includes some shadow.
Fill Light
Second light and placed opposite of the key light. Its purpose is to fill the shadows created by the key light. Fill is a lot softer and not so bright as the key.
Back Light
Back light is placed the subject and lights from the other side rather than direct lighting (which is like the key and fill). Its main job is to cause definition and a highlight around the subject. It helps separate the subject to the background and also creates a three-dimensional look.
Health and safety consideration is important when using lighting in photography. If your going to use lighting you have to make sure its placed in a safe location where theirs nothing around it which could catch fire.
Examples of my own studio photography
The model in this photo is Jude and a used fluorescent lighting.
High front light: this lighting makes most of the main focus. Creates a well lit photograph and on a sunny day brings out the colours of the main focus.
Front light: this lighting illuminates the main focus and the flash is most often used aswell. It lights the entire main focus and the lack of shadows through the lighting makes it the easiest lighting to work with.
Side light: this light separates the main focus and background. It also conveys texture and depth.
Back light: this lighting comes from behind the main focus. It creates silhouettes and dramatic shadows in landscapes.
Example of light direction
Drawing with light: often people use lighting actually in the photograph rather then just an element in the background to improve an image. Professionally its termed as 'light painting' and is a photographic technique where exposures are created through moving hand-held light sources.
Darren Pearson
Darren is a light painting photographer and creates wonderful photos simply through LED lighting.
In photography a silhouette is defined as a dark black outline that appears against a light background. Its commonly seen as a black shape which is mostly a shadow of a human. It can be used for creating mystery in a photograph as this shadow could be represent the unidentified, beware of the unknown. We are usually told to take photos of the sun behind us in order to get the most consistent results. However if you shoot towards to the sun it often creates interesting photographic effects such as silhouettes.
Example of a silhouette shot
Example of my own silhouette
White balance is a camera setting which lets you adjust lighting in order to make white objects in the photos appear white.
Colour Temperature
Colour temperature is a characteristic in photography which refers to a light source. Low colour temperature is more warmer colours starting from yellow to red light like candle flames and light bulbs. High colour temperature is more colder colours like dark blues and light blues. For example clear blue sky. Colour temperature is usually measured on Kelvin (K) which a typical colour temperature chat.
Colour Meaning
Some would say that colour is the most important factor in photography. It can be used to create completely different moods and emotions, it also shows warmth and coldness. Often photographers show a story through the use of colour; for example if you take a photo of a cold Winters day the use of dark colours like black and blue show the story of the photo and emphasises the meaning.
Colour Wheel
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