Rembrandt lighting is a standard lighting technique that is used in studio portrait photography. and cinematography; it is also used in contrast with butterfly lighting It can be achieved using one light and a reflector or two lights, and is popular because it is capable of producing images which appear both natural and compelling with a minimum of equipment. Rembrandt lighting is characterized by an illuminated triangle under the eye of the subject on the less illuminated side of the face. It is named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who occasionally used this type of lighting.
Here are some examples of Rembrandt lighting:
My photoshoots:
For my photos the Chiaroscuro photos are coloured yellow, the Rembrandt photos are red and the butterfly photos are coloured green
I chose these photos because they are the best pictures I got of the Rembrandt photos, you can really see the triangle under the eye and the definition of it in these photos. I edited one photo with colour and another black and white to try it with two different styles. I prefer the black and white as it represents the lighting style better in my opinion. I also experimented with a white background but it didn’t have the same effect as the black background as it didn’t reflect the triangle onto the face as well as the black background.
Here are some photos I had taken in the studio and they were all mixed lighting so that we could see what one we could get on each model, we tried to make different background colours to see what looked best and experimented were to place each light and what effect it would have on the model and the photograph. I’ve managed to get a photograph of the butterfly and Rembrandt however I wasn’t able to get any Chiaroscuro photos where there is split lighting and half of the models face has a shadow on it and helps us see the facial features a little bit better.
If I were to do this again I would have likes to have take more photo o see if someone of them turned out better, I would have tried to keep some of the photos in colour to see if the lighting would have changed in any way or if it would make the different lighting stand out, I do like that they are in black and white as if adds a totally different effect to the photo and almost makes the photo look more modern in a slight way depending on how you view it, as it could also look quite old aa back in the that cameras didn’t capture any colour. I feel as though putting my photos into black and white helps elevate the light shades grow as you can see on the bottom right photo you can see a bright shadow and the model cheeks bones and their nose, this then shows me how much of effect each lighting position can change the lighting and whether the photo is in black and white.
here I to tried add some of Oliver Doran’s ideas into my photo by making the photo black and white, I also tried to get some of his style of photography into my work, although Oliver takes portraits of people you tend to see their whole bodies in the shot where as only the shoulders and head is visible, if I were to redo this I would try and add some of the models whole bodies into the shot as this really changes the photos perspective.
Chiaroscuro lighting (Italian for “lightdark”) is a technique within portrait photography which utilises a low-key lighting setup to achieve contrast between the subject and a dark background to create additional depth.
Chiaroscuro typically provides a high contrast between light and dark and a sense of drama and intensity which remains striking today. This technique emphasises the subject and features by drawing the eye to the subject, and creates a three-dimensional quality in photographs.
History of Chiaroscuro Lighting
Chiaroscuro lighting originated in the Renaissance period but is most notably associated with Baroque art. This technique first appeared in the 15th century, but true chiaroscuro developed during the 16th century, in Mannerism and in Baroque art. Chiaroscuro in film: Film noir (French for “black film”), is a cinematic term is generally regarded as originating from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.
Chiaroscuro Lighting Setup
Chiaroscuro lighting is created by using one key light and a reflector that reflects the key light back onto the subject.
He’s a portrait & advertising photographer working between Jersey, London, Paris and Dubai. He loves cinematic and theatrical imagery mainly of humans but also, as any professional photographer, he delve into other areas of the photographic world including; product, food, interiors and architecture.
He’s photographer who views light as the primary narrator of his stories. His photographic journey has been transformative and enriched by ongoing learning and heartfelt connections with people. He developed his skills over a decade in the Middle East, collaborating with renowned brands like Cartier and Dior, and contributing to high-profile magazines such as Esquire, GQ, and Cosmopolitan. He had the privilege to photograph celebrities like Robert De Niro, Roger Federer, and Sir Ben Kingsley.
Returning to his roots in Jersey, Channel Islands, he immersed himself in portrait photography. him and his team strive to capture the essence of their subjects, a process that begins well before his camera clicks. Building relationships with their subjects, from calls and interviews to casual chats, helps them truly understand their personalities.
As technology evolved, they found a new passion in blending Digital Art & AI with his unique lighting style, leading to innovative photographic art. This exploration birthed the ‘Fantastic Beasts Society’, a vibrant series where animals wear haute couture, captivating viewers of all ages.
His photos are always taken in black and white which makes the photo look a lot more minimalistic and modern, what i don’t like about his work is that he has his own makeup artist and stylist which could be good for certain things however i feel like portrait’s should be taken of someone’s natural state and they should dress how they would normally to show who you truly are and not a fake version of yourself. This could be taken to the completely different context and maybe the stylist is there to help you wear something you wold like but don’t possibly own, same with the makeup maybe someone doesn’t know how to do professional make up and want to experience having it and especially having it when you are getting your portrait taken. Personally I really like how his photos have turned out as he gets the model to stand or sit a certain way and he gets props involved which can give a better back story of the photo, as each photo has a story behind it whether its basic portrait it still holds meaning, like why was it taken?, and why is the model look at the camera/side a certain way, its a mystery and the props in the photo hold evidence of some of the meaning.
“Rembrandt lighting adds an element of drama and psychological depth to the character of your sitter.“
Rembrandt lighting takes its name after Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, a 17th-century Dutch painter who was known for using earthy tones and golden highlights to frame the faces of his portraiture subjects. What made his painting style distinct was focusing lighting on the subject’s face and adding detail around it, tapping into an innate human attraction to the face.
His approach results in one half of the subject’s face is fully illuminated, while the other half is in partial shadow. One tell-tale sign of Rembrandt lighting is the presence of a small inverted triangle of light below the subject’s eye, usually along the cheek, which is a result of the lighting setup. For perfect execution of this type of lighting, the triangle of light shadow must be no wider than the length of the eye, and no longer than the subject’s nose.
The Rembrandt lighting technique results in a moody and dramatic effect. This type of lighting technique often features a dark or black background behind the subject, putting the subject front and center.
Rembrandt lighting is a technique utilizing one light and one reflector or two separate lights. It’s a popular technique because it creates images that look both dramatic yet natural. It’s predominantly characterized by a lit-up triangle underneath the subject’s eye on the less illuminated area of the face (fill side).
Camera settings (flash lighting) Tripod: optional, better so you dont have a shake in the photo. 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
My OWN PHOTOSHOOT:
Personally I really like how this photo has turned out as it looks exactly like a Rembrandt photo, however I would have preferred to have made the triangle around the eye more clear and visible to see, the background is quite dark which clashes with the shadowing on the models face. If I were to redo this again I would have tried to get a white background so that the shadows on the face were more vibrant and stood out of the picture, however I do really like how it turned out as everything is in the right place. If i were to make the triangle smaller it would have been less noticeable and if the triangle was my bigger it would have changed the shape and ruined the point of the photo. If I were to change something about the model I would have changed the clothes and made them more vibrant so that some colour was in the photo however the clothes she had on were simple and didn’t catch my eye too much which is a good as my focus is only on the type of lighting used on the model. I would have also taken of the models lanyard as it sort of clashed with the models clothes and gets in the way. Lastly I would have changed the models posture and i would have made her pose as if she wan more comfortable as she seems to be posing more professionally. I would have possibly made the model hold a prop or even just position her in a more unique style.
the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.
Chiaroscuro is a high-contrast lighting technique that utilises a low-key lighting setup to achieve contrast between the subject and a dark background. Read on to find out more, and discover how you could learn this technique (and more) for free at our upcoming TFC workshops.
A visual element in art, chiaroscuro (Italian for lightdark) is defined as a bold contrast between light and dark). A certain amount of chiaroscuro is the effect of light modelling in painting where 3-dimensional volume is suggested by highlights and shadows. It first appeared in 15th century painting in Italy and Flanders (Holland), but true chiaroscuro developed during the 16th century, in Mannerism and in Baroque art.
Dark subjects were dramatically lighted by a shaft of light from a single constricted and often unseen source was a compositional device seen in the paintings of old masters such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt.
The set up:
Chiaroscuro is when you have split lighting and one half of your face is more visible than the other and there is shadowing on one side of the face. Its meant to darken the background and highlight the subject in the foreground, drawing the viewer’s focus and attention, Chiaroscuro balances high-contrast light and shade to give the appearance of depth, creating an enhanced or more dramatic effect. Chiaroscuro creates three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional plane, darkening the background and highlighting the subject in the foreground, drawing the viewer’s focus and attention.
MY OWN PHOTOSHOOT:
Here we used more than one light to shine onto the model to create this half lighting on the face, and had someone hold a reflector to the side so that the light would hit certain place of the face, this made the photo look very dark lighted especially with the back background however I do feel that the dark background makes the photo look better then if it had a bright background as the shadows on the face wouldn’t sit right,
I really like how this turned out as you can clearly see the half shadow on the left side of the face, the models facial expression makes the photo look even better as she was always smiling and sometimes having a natural face can change the whole plot of the photo. I feel as though the shadow is exactly in the middle which makes the photo look a lot better than if the shadow was more to the left/right. To get this effect I had to have some help to hold reflectors on the side of the models face so that the light would bounce off of the reflector onto the models face to create that shadow effect. If I were to do this again I would have liked to crop the photo more centred to get a more symmetrical look. I have put the photo in black and white as there wasn’t much colour in the photo anyways, the black and white tone makes the photo look more modern, however chiaroscuro is more of an old type of photography used, therefore making it black and makes it more original to me. I really like how this turned out as you can clearly identify what type of photograph it is and i feel that the black and white effect makes the features of the photograph look a lot more brighter and clearer. However if i were to do this again i would have liked to make the model stand more in the centre of the camera so that it looks more professional.
Chiaroscuro is a very old type of art where dark subjects were dramatically lighted by a shaft of light, certain places of the model and the surrounding has lighted up places.
For example, here on this painting there are certain features that are quite dark and very difficult to see and there are brighter places of the model which represents the key features of each painting/photograph. As you can see is that each models/ persons face is very clear and things like their trousers are less viewable as they are less important and not that nice to look at, however their faces hold many key features, also one of the models bodies are quite brightly lit which could help us understand the situation that’s going on.
Butterfly lighting is a technique within portrait photography which refers to when the key light is placed above and pointing down on the subject’s face, which creates a dramatic shadow under the nose and chin that resembles a butterfly and defines the contours of the face.
Butterfly lighting is primarily used in studio settings, and it is one of the most common lighting setups. Butterfly lighting is also called ‘paramount lighting’ or ‘glamour lighting’.
History of Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly lighting dates back to some of the earliest glamour shots. This technique was first used by Josef von Sternberg, a Hollywood director who is most known for his work with Marlene Dietrich, in the 1930s. Sternberg used butterfly lighting to create a sense of mystery around Dietrich’s character, and this lighting has been used in portraiture ever since.
Butterfly Lighting Setup
Butterfly lighting is created by positioning the main light directly in line with the subject’s face and the camera, with the main light above and facing down on the subject. Most photos which use butterfly lighting have the model facing forward. A reflector can be placed below the subject to bounce light back up into the face if the shadows are too deep.
During this project we are looking at different types of artificial lighting in the studio, mainly focusing on Chiaroscuro / Split lighting, Butterfly Lighting and Rembrandt Lighting.
My Photoshoot:
In this photoshoot, I attempted to take photographs using Rembrandt, butterfly and chiaroscuro lighting techniques. I think the photoshoot did go well, however it was harder than expected to achieve a successful look with the lighting.
Chiaroscuro lighting is a high-contrasting light technique that utilises a low-key lighting set up to achieve contrast between the subject and the dark background. Window light is the most accessible for this technique, as it focuses on only half of the models face being seen. By using window light, the photographer is able to enhance the exposure to avoid any distraction in the background of the photo. This helps keep the spotlight on the model. The window must be the only source of light when using this technique, if there is other background lighting then the focus will drift from the model into the background.
This technique is mainly used in film to create striking images or evoke a certain feeling. The contrast between light and shade can help frame a subject more effectively. Drawing viewers eyes to things they would not usually focus on in the image. Chiaroscuro is a high-contrast lighting technique. Chiaroscuro uses a low key lighting setup, where a key light is used as the sole light source to achieve dark backgrounds with starkly lit subjects.
Chiaroscuro simply means is ‘ the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. ‘
Chiaroscuro provides a sense of drama and intensity that remains striking today
Examples of Chiaroscuro Lighting:
Lighting set up:
For this effect, you light across your subject in one direction, and here we lit the background in the reverse direction. Ideally, the subject should go to black on the unlit side and the same for the background. Chiaroscuro lighting typically involves using a single, strong light source positioned at an angle to the subject. This directional light creates dramatic shadows and highlights.
Light – Chiaroscuro mainly uses one key light, and a variation using a reflector which helps deepen the contrast between the shadows.
My own photoshoots-
Overall, I am happy with these outcomes. They are definitely my most preferred out of all three styles of lightings as I personally think we have got the closest to the correct lighting in this style. We experimented with a black and white backdrop as shown and not just a head shot but personally my favourite is with a black backdrop as the shadows blend in with the background which creates a unique effect and looks more professional. I edited the images to create more depth of the shadows but still keeping it light and bright. One benefit of this technique is if the model prefers one side of their face and also creates a dramatic significant effect. One side of their face is almost gone from the shadows but definitely black drops are my favourite which links to the famous work above as they have also used black backgrounds.
Butterfly lighting is a portrait lighting pattern where the key light is placed above and directly centred with a subject’s face. This creates a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly.
butterfly lighting is typically used in beauty and fashion photography, because It’s a light pattern that flatters almost everybody, making it one of the most common lighting setups. Butterfly lighting was used to photograph some of the most famous stars from classic Hollywood.
some examples of butterfly lighting are:
All Paramount lighting consists of is a key light placed above and directly centered with a subject’s face. You want this light source to be above and behind the camera, angled down towards your subject. This can be achieved with either a continuous light softbox or a strobe / off-camera flash.
my attempt:
as you can see here I achieved the signature butterfly shadow under his nose in most of my attempts in this photography achieving both a softer approach to the photography style and harsher and sharper shadows.
in an attempt to better understand the lighting set up and the effects of different posing i later put my self in the place of the model and experimented with different angles, lighting positions and reflective sheets.
Here are the results after editing:
In these first two I attempted to recrate the classic holly wood editing where this style of photography originated, with very harsh shadows allowing for the contouring of the cheekbones and drawing focus to the jaw and eyes, I believe I achieve this effect in these photos and I believe I achieved the signature butterfly shadow.
In these photographs I attempted to achieve a softer look in the photography, still outlining the key features of the face and still showcasing the signature butterfly shadow but creating an over all softer effect for the photographs.
