Chiaroscuro is the use of contrasted light and shadow. It was developed during the Renaissance in portraiture - artists used light to illuminate objects and faces, particularly one side of the face which gave a dramatic effect and added another dimension to the painting. 

Photographers use this technique to highlight what they want to be seen. Strong tonal contrasts can be use to create dramatic effects in photographs and in films. It can also be used to hide a part of someone or someones identity; having the direction of light from behind so only a silhouette can be seen.


I used 1 point lighting to achieve an extreme version of chiaroscuro so only some of the face is illuminated. The contrast of shadow that takes over the rest of the photograph helps to exaggerate this.

I chose loss of identity because it is such a complex and large subject in which many areas can be applied and touched upon.I want to represent a loss of personality and belonging seen throughout  how people are positioned and in how the images are further edited.

My first idea for the shoot would be using a mirror:

This is due to the effect that it is able to remove a body and emphasis the conceptual concept of a feeling of no belonging and having no self worth.It also allows an interesting sense of surrealism within the work.It presents an illusion of possibly other people seen within the mirror,or even a different angle or vision of herself,Furthermore it could be a simple reflection of the background which furthers the thought that she is nothing to how she is given to her scenario and ways in which she is not seen by others. Additionally the mirror could be used in order to show a repetition of the face through out a crack,this crack would also symbolize a sense of hate for her image and or how she is conditioned to look a certain idelaitic way and in her image she is not succeeding in this unrelatic standardized beauty ordeal.

I also will use the following editing ideas and techniques to further the ideas of loss of self worth.I might make a print and then remove the face as she is lacking an identity,I could then use this to be seen within the mirror and a reflection of her looking at herself not existing,and perhaps a reflection and to how others view her also working well within the mirror aspect These d editing idea would be a body image and her almost pulling apart her body,and showing a reflection of nothing.this was inspired by herself in order to try and discover who and as to what her identity  really is.

My second shoot idea would be a close up face shoot focusing on editing and tones:

For this I was really inspired by a sense of natural tonal beauty within black and white,and how this can highlight marks and tones within the face.The relationship enhancement of this shoot will be the following; stick paper over the eyes or gum, any substance that represents  a sense of insecurity and attraction from  seeing a reflection of who they are and what their identity really is. The next way in which I could edit my images is with a blur or an almost dissolving aspect to the images, this is done by how they themselves are seen melting away due to not knowing how they themselves are or what they mean.This could also further possible slow shutter speed photos done in order to show a face moving.the next idea is inspired by a more manual aspect,I would want to print my chosen photo and poke holes within  the image and allow the light to come trough, this allows a sense of persona and how the light presents who she is ,and is either dissolving or perhaps lost within all the gaps within finding herself.

My third and final shoot will be a projection of colours and lights all over the body and face.

I think this idea is highly creative and also quite subjective, it proposes the idea of an expression of themselves and colour and personality but Also venerability within the exposure of themselves.Not only this but the light and colours allow a sense of reflection of space.Otherwise I could use the projection in such means to blend their bodies and cover them,this proposes the idea that they are unseen and do not exist to people and blend in with everyone else. Finally these photos could be further enhanced throughout  a transparent sheet and paint over the stop, this would compliment the colours within the projection and also reflect a further sense of hidden identity,it also allows a sense of abstraction to the piece and a sense of movement ands struggle within the people. the pose would be very flexible and expressive, this is due to me wanting to create a story throughout the work itself.

Rankin is a fashion and portrait photographer, mainly using celebrities in his portraits. Each of his celebrity portraits reflect the person with the make-up facial expression and any props used.

Rankin is mostly known for his fashion portraits. In this one he has used black and white make-up and clothes. The well-lit lighting used helps to exaggerate the contrast between the shades.

During the studio photo shoot we played with lighting and created portraits with the same concept of light and dark using light - creating the effect of Chiaroscuro. 

Contact SheetBest Images from the shoot 

Edited Images

Best Image from the shoot

What is studio lighting?

Studio lighting is broken down into two categories, continuous and flash lighting. Continuous lighting means that the light source is kept on and you can power them up and down based on how much light you need for your shoot. Flash lighting is an artificial light produced from a flash to help illuminate a dark scene.

What is fill lighting?

Fill light is any source of light that lightens areas of shadow created by other lights. Usually fill light is used to lighten the shadows created by the main light.

Key lighting – The key light is the first and usually most important light that a photographer will use in a lighting setup. The purpose of the key light is to highlight the form of the subject.

Fill lighting – In photographic lighting a fill light may be used to reduce the contrast of an image to capture the same amount of detail typically seen by eye in average lighting and considered normal.

Using the studio

Favorite images from my studio shoot

Developing my studio images

Why do we use studio lighting?

Studio lighting is used by photographers to capture images in ways that would very difficult in natural lighting and so that they can have total control over the environment. Studio lighting gives a photographer the freedom to control everything in the environment form the intensity of the light, the angle that they are at and the way that it highlights the subject and number of light sources. It the photographer to change the environment in any way that they wish and to also add in a different thing that could become part of the shoot such as backdrops and props.

What is the difference between 1-2-3 point light and what does each one do?

Three-point lighting is a method used in studio photography that uses three separate light sources being positioned in any way so that the photographer can illuminate the environment in any way that they chose.

The fill light a so shines on the subject, but from a side angle relative to the key and is often placed in a lower position than the key. It balances the key by illuminating shaded surfaces and lessening or eliminating chiaroscuro effects, such as the shadow cast by a person’s nose upon the rest of the face. 

The backlight shines on the subject from behind, often to one side or the other. It gives the subject a rim of light, serving to separate the subject from the background and highlighting contours.

The keylight is a specialized lamp or a camera’s flash. In outdoor daytime shots, the Sun is used as the key light.

What is fill lighting?

Fill light is any source of light that lightens ‘fills in’ areas of shadows created by other lights. Fill light is used to lighten the shadows created by the main light.  Some images, especially those requiring a dramatic mood, are best with little or no fill lighting. Most images will require some form of fill lighting to keep the image shadows and highlights in the image

What is spill lighting?

Light spilling is where light falls where it was not intended to fall