Rembrandt lighting is a lighting technique which was named after Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. It is used in photography and cinematography and can be achieved by using one key light and a reflector. It creates a triangle shape from the light on the side of the face which it is not directly hitting whilst leaving the rest of the face dark.

Movie director Cecil B. DeMille is credited for the first use of the term. While shooting his 1915 film DeMille borrowed some portable spotlights from the Mason Opera House in downtown LA and began to make shadows on his subjects. DeMille’s partner first thought that people would only pay half for these images he had taken as only half of the face was captured. But then DeMille told him that is was Rembrandt lighting and they would pay double.

How is Rembrandt lighting useful?

This lighting technique is useful as it creates a dramatic but also natural look on the person. It is considered one of the go-to lighting effects as it creates a dramatic effect but is fairly simple to set up.

Rembrandt lighting set up.

The one key light is placed diagonally to the subject to highlight one half of the face and the camera either centre or at an opposite angle to the light. A reflector should be used to get more light onto the underneath of the subjects face.

Rembrandt lighting own images