We use studio lighting because it allows us to create natural lighting effects in a variety of situations. This lighting can be manipulated to the users living to create the desired final effect of highlights and shadows. In a studio, 1, 2 and 3 point lighting can be used. By using three point lighting the photographer can light the subject whilst controlling shading and shadows produced by direct lighting. By using two point lighting the subject is lit and the shadows are controlled by the second light source. By using one point lighting the subject is only lit from one direction, creating string dark shadows. If two lights are used, this is called fill light, it is used to fill the shadows created by the fill light.
Chiaroscuro
‘The term “chiaroscuro” has come to define images in which there is a strong contrast between light and dark areas that help inform the shape and form of a subject.’
Camera Settings
Camera settings (flash lighting) Tripod: optional Use transmitter on hotshoe White balance: daylight (5000K) ISO: 100 Exposure: Manual 1/125 shutter-speed > f/16 aperture – check settings before shooting Focal lenght: 105mm portrait lens
Camera settings (continuous lighting) Tripod: recommended to avoid camera shake Manual exposure mode White balance: tungsten light (3200K) ISO: 400-1600 – depending on how many light sources Exposure: Manual 1/60-1/125 shutter-speed > f/4-f/8 aperture – check settings before shooting Focal lenght: 50mm portrait lens
Studio portraiture is an incredibly versatile genre of photography: images can be anything from bright, punchy, high-key images full of light and energy, to dark, intense images that draw the viewer to the subjects eyes. Studio portraits are widely used for many things, especially media.
Jean Biele
Hugo Ahlberg
References
When taking the photos, I began with a few test shots using 1 point lighting and instantly chose to include a stool- I feel like it made my photos a little more interesting. I began testing different lighting for example light, dark, warm, cold. I had previously taken photos using coloured lights and they always added a dramatic effect, so I added blue and red gels on either side of the model, creating 2 point lighting– I really liked the outcome.
First Selection
Sub Selection
When editing these images, I slightly cropped each side as my original images had the sides of the studio showing. I sharpened the face a little and increased the exposure to lighten them.
Final Image
I chose this image as the final image as the composition turned out well- I like the smooth transition of colour in the background and the strong shadow on the bottom right. The focus is still drawn to the face due to the bright colour and contrast which is what I was going for.
In this photoshoot I experimented with soft box lighting and flash lighting. I used a transmitter to set off the box lights at the same time as the shutter speed to create an intense contrast between light and dark.
ISO=100
Exposure set manually
Shutter speed=1/125
Aperture=f/16
Experimenting with lighting photoshoot
The images highlighted in red are my least successful images because they are slightly out of focus, making them blurry. One is also underexposed which makes it too dark, preventing any visual contrast of light and dark.
The photographs highlighted in green are most successful because they are not too over or under exposed and create a clear, strong contrast between light and dark.
Photoshop development
Original Image
Original Image
Edited Image
Edited Image
I wanted to keep the tones and colours in the image similar but slightly cooler, however I increased the contrast in order to create a stronger juxtaposition between light and dark and then cropped the image to get rid of excess background that I didn’t want in my final photo.
A candidphoto is of an unplanned moment. There is no posing. There is no direction from you as the photographer.
Tips to have greats candid PhotoShoot
1. Always Be Ready
2. Use the Right Equipment
3. Use a Longer Lens
4. Flash Free Zone
5. Plan Ahead
6. Take Lots of Photos
7. Photograph People in Group
8. Frame Images
Ideas
Candid Photography
Joel Meyerowitz 1962
1970
Lee Friedlander 1965Helen Levitt 1940
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Who is Henri Cartier ?
Cartier-Bresson was born in Chanteloup, and studied literature at Cambridge University in 1928-29. He began photographing in 1931 and purchased a Leica in 1933.
His work
My pictures
I looked for people , buildings or situations that we do not see every day. What I find impressive about street pictures is that photographers can create something ”basic” into something original they see things differently. I tried to do the same thing, see the world differently to succeed I changed the angles to create object longer or larger . When I was walking I saw a man in a robe I thought it was very strange to be honest we don’t really see that everyday so I took the opportunity. Even if the man run fast I caught the moment and now I have a original picture. I don’t have a favourite image I think their all different I can’t compared them. I’m happy for results.
As you can see in the photos above, 1 point lighting (also knows as chiaroscuro) creates a high contrast of shadows- and with portraits, its a great way to bring out the facial shape and its features.
Within this photo session in the studio, my main focus was to experiment with 1 point lighting varying from both sides and slightly below.
Throughout the photo-taking I kept to the same tone of light (which was warm) as it responded well to the choice of clothing which was vintage-like. However I tried different intensities (dull and bright). Also, used a variety of different poses.
First Selection
Image 1
Image 2
Sub Selection
I chose these two images out of my first selection. In image one, I like the composition and the straight posture of the model which portrays dominance, strength and confidence- there is also one sharp shadow on the right and a much more soft shadow on the left which contrast. In image 2, There are sharp shadows and bold golden reflections coming off the models shirt- however the majority of focus is still on the models face which is very defined due to the angle and lighting.
Editing
When editing I made a couple small adjustments such as cropping image 1 and sharpening both images very slightly.
Another outcome that I think turned out well was turning the images black and white- this was to refer to the 3 images by other photographers at the beginning on the blog.
Portrait photography is aimed towards capturing the personality of a person or group by using effective lighting, backdrops or poses.
Mood Board
Contemporary Portrait Photography
Contemporary portrait photography is described as being comparing a portrait photograph of your time against one of that from a much earlier period.
Environmental Portrait Photography
An environmental portrait photograph is a portrait in which he subject is in their usual environment such as their home or workplace. For example a mechanic in a garage or a police officer in a police station.
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz is an American Photographer and is most famous for her portrait photography of some of Hollywood’s most famous celebrities.
Photo-shoot
I will take photos of first line workers in a medium-close up similar to what Annie Leibovitz does in her photos. I will go to different first line workers that might not be usually described as first line to show that more people are classified as first line that we first think.
Mind Map
My Photo Shoot
Best From Photo Shoot
Best Front Line Image
I like the image above because it shows an elderly woman with glasses on looking at the camera with a sense of despair but also hope. This image is strong because she is wearing a mask preventing full understanding of her real emotions so everyone will interpret her expression in different ways.
Arnold Newman was an American – Jewish photographer who was most known for his ‘environmental portraits’. In the photograph above, his subject is Alfred Krupp, a German industrialist who benefited heavily from the use of Jewish slave labour during World War 2. One theme in this photograph is religion and ideals, as Krupp and Newman have ‘conflicting’ beliefs and values, which makes the photograph even more eerie and unsettling than it already appears to be. Further more, Krupp’s face could indicate that he is looking at Newman and not at the camera, as his expression is foreboding and threatening.
Newman has manipulated the composition of this photograph in order to frame Krupp in the middle with the two pillars either side of him, and symmetrical shapes in the background. Additionally, the colours in the photograph are dark and muted as a way to mirror Krupp himself, and the things that he’s done. There is natural light shown from above Krupp’s head, which creates an image of a church or cathedral, which relates back to the theme of conflicting religions and ideals. Also, Newman is looking down on Krupp from his position behind the camera, which could be interpreted to mean that he is figuratively ‘looking down’ on him, as a way to belittle and judge him for the things he did to other people of his religion during World War 2.
-Camera setting for flash lighting Tripod was used in order to keep the camera still for a high shutter speed.
-A transmitter was on the camera to set off the flashlights.
-ISO was at 100
-Exposure was done manually with a 1/125 shutter speed and the aperture was set at f/16
-Focal length was 105mm with the use of a portrait lens.
Contact Sheet
Editing
I started off by getting the oval shaped template in order to cut out my face in the images in an oval shape to be like Henry Mullins.
After that, I copied and pasted the selected oval shape on my head onto a different page on photoshop with the 4 different angles I had chosen from the photo shoot.
Finally, once all the different pictures where copied and pasted onto a different page I flattened them to make it one image and edited it with the use of levels and changing it to be black and white to make the Diamond Cameos.
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French Humanist photographer, he was born in 1908 and was considered a master of candid photography. He pioneered the genre of street photography, and saw it as capturing a decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson’s street photography shows a range of different cultures and environments, he uses his camera to catch glimpses of stranger’s lives at random moments. In 1947, following the aftermath of World War Two, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger and David Seymour founded The Magnum Photos agency- which represents some of the world’s most renowned photographers.
Mood Board – Key Cartier-Bresson Images
Image Analysis
Henri Cartier-Bresson | Children in Seville, Spain | 1933.
This black and white candid portrait photograph was taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson at the beginning of his career as a photographer. By first looking at this image one might guess it was captured during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) due to the broken structures and rubble surrounding the children. However, this image was taken in 1933 before the war, creating a sense of foreboding as children are playing in the destruction caused by a war that hasn’t yet occurred. In addition, the image has an abstract composition as the large geometric hole in the wall acts like a frame on the photo. This connotes the idea that we are only observers looking in on a situation, ripping a hole into other people’s lives without seeing the full picture. Furthermore, the image holds a wide depth of field with the window-like hole creating a tunnel to the background of the photo. It is clear the image was taken during daytime as the natural lighting creates an overexposed skyline in the top centre, forming natural shadows. The darkest points of this image fall on the children’s clothing, faces and bodies which contrast immensely with the bright white walls on the wrecked buildings. Additionally, the harsh black shadow on the crack of the wall creates a clear focal point for the observer, persuading them to look through the void to the centre if the image. Moreover, we can see that Cartier-Bresson has used a fast shutter-speed to capture this photo as some of the children appear to be moving however, they aren’t particularly blurred.
Image Comparison
Henri Cartier-Bresson 1933
Raghubir Singh 1985
This image was taken by Raghubir Singh (1942-1999), an Indian photographer who was most known for his documentary-style images he captured of people in India. Visually, there are many key differences between Singh’s image compared to Cartier-Bresson’s. For example, Singh has captured a colour image, with the dominant colour red repeated in the subject’s clothing and surroundings, whereas Cartier-Bresson’s image is monochrome black and white. This contrast in colouration creates different atmospheres in the images. The warmer tones in Singh’s alludes to feelings of comfort and happiness, supported by the visual closeness of the people being photographed. However, the dark dreary black and white tones in Cartier-Bresson’s image creates a more sombre atmosphere and connotes ideas of sadness and regret. Additionally, Singh’s image has a rougher texture due to the scratches and marks on the surrounding walls, Cartier-Bresson has captured a less busy image with plain white walls enclosing the subjects in. This contrast in texture could symbolise the busy lives of the subjects in Singh’s image, as all of them appear to be moving quickly with purpose, however the subjects in the other image seem to just be playing. Lastly, while both images have natural lighting, it is clear Singh’s image has been taken earlier in the day to Cartier-Bresson’s as the shadows are more prominent and fall to the left of the image.
Nevertheless, there are also many similarities within these images, for example it is clear both images have been captured with a fast shutter-speed as the subjects are clearly moving yet are not blurry. Furthermore, both images have a similar composition as the abstract shape created by the hole in Cartier-Bresson’s image resembles the positions the subjects in Singh’s image are standing in. If you were to trace the cracked shape onto the second image, it would look like the people have created it with their bodies- like a dot-to-dot. In addition, there are similarities within the lines in these images, with Cartier-Bresson capturing the rigid lines of the destroyed wall and Singh capturing the jagged lines of the stairs. These irregular patterns allude to the idea that these people’s lives can take an unexpected turn due to the environments they live it. The messages portrayed in the photographs are very much alike, with both connoting the idea that we are only spectators observing someone else’s life. In my opinion, these images epitomise ‘Street Photography’ as they capture people naturally in their daily lives, letting us imagine their backstories without really seeing the full picture.
