Chiaroscuro is a high-contrast lighting technique that utilises a low-key lighting setup to achieve contrast between the subject and a dark background.

photographs :

chiaroscuro lighting context/analysis :

Begin by defining your light source, a cardinal rule. Chiaroscuro is a symphony of five zones that flow into one another. These zones are the highlight, mid-tone, deep shadow, reflected light, and cast shadow.

Why should we use chiaroscuro?

chiaroscuro lighting 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 prominently, drawing viewers’ eyes to things they might not focus on otherwise.#

chiaroscuro set up :

this is the setup you would need in order to get good photos of chiaroscuro photography.

my response :

contact sheet :

My best images :

Environmental Portraiture

Chiaroscuro is a high contrast lighting technique, creating contrast between the subject and a dark background. Chiaroscuro portraits first came about during the 15th century, then continued to develop during the 16th century. The dark subjects were lighted by a small source of light, that illuminated parts of the subject, which overall achieved the contrast between light and dark. To create this effect a single light is used to create the brighter effect on the subject, but also stands out from the contrasting dark background.

Chiaroscuro is traditionally used in the film industry, typically to describe Hollywood crime dramas. It was used because it created this interesting and dramatic effect in the photo, which would help engage the viewer creating this meaningful story behind the photo.

Rembrandt lighting, named after Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, is a type of lighting used in photography that lights up the face creating an upside-down light triangle under the eyes of the subject. The light triangle will draw the viewers attention in, this is because of the contrast between the light and dark.

Rembrandt lighting is effective because it creates interesting and attractive depth in the photo. The leading lines created by the upside-down triangle under the eye, helps emphasise and create a dramatic effect in the portrait, making your attention draw closely in on the subject.

To create this effect you can use either flash or continuous light, that is placed slightly above the subject. This illuminates the subjects face, creating a triangle underneath the eyes, and shadow.

My Photos:

The last two photos are my best because they both show a really clear triangle under the eye, that is emphasised on darker side of the face, by the light shining from the opposite side.

Butterfly lighting is a technique where the light source is placed directly above at an angle and slightly in front of the subjects face, this then creates a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose. Also called paramount lighting, it is often used to photograph some of the famous Hollywood stars as well as in fashion photography, making it commonly well known for defining the subjects cheek bones making the subject look thinner and eyes look bigger.

Butterfly lighting can be achieved by either using flash lights or continuous light, if continuous is can be natural or artificial, meaning using LEDs or strobe lights. To create the butterfly effect you use can use reflectors which reflect the light back, which creates the butterfly shadow.

Print screen 1:

Print screen 2:

Print Screen 3:

Final Virtual Gallery:

This is my final virtual gallery, which overall I feel looks pretty successful. I like how I have incorporated a range of the different lighting techniques we experimented with. I think my favourite lighting technique is the chiaroscuro because it shows a deep contrast between the light and the shadows, and gives a mood of mystery

in 1826/7, Nièpce succeeded in making the earliest surviving camera photograph. It represented a view from a window at Le Gras (his hometown in Burgundy, France), captured on a pewter plate coated in bitumen diluted in lavender oil. The exposure time was probably several days.

Photography was invented by Frenchman Nicéphore Niépce in 1822. Niépce developed a technique called heliography, which he used to create the world’s oldest surviving photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras (1827). Heliography was conceived in response to camera obscura theories dating back to ancient history.

What is photography and its origin?

The word “photography” literally means “drawing with light”.

When did photography first begin?

Photography was invented in 1822 when the first photograph was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (pronounced “nyeps”). Unfortunately, the first examples of Niépce’s work have been lost to history, but he still holds the title for the oldest surviving photograph, taken in 1826.

This is the first photo ever taken.

What is photography and its origin?

Photography was invented by Frenchman Nicéphore Niépce in 1822. The word “Photography” comes from the Greek, meaning to draw with light.

In 1826, Niépce succeeded in taking the first true camera photograph. He used a sheet of pewter coated with bitumen, which required an exposure time of at least 8 hours! The subject of this photograph hit close to home for Niépce; the view from his workroom in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, France.

Niépce developed a technique called heliography, which he used to create the world’s oldest surviving photograph.

The origin of photography is significant because it created various aspects of human life. It showcases technological advancements, enables documentation and historical preservation, fosters artistic expression, facilitates communication and journalism, and has personal and social impact. Photography has transformed how we create, remember, communicate, and understand the world.