Soft-A portrait lit with soft light is generally lit with a large light source, like a big soft box or even a large window light. This large light source wraps the subject in light and provides a very flattering and beautiful light as a result of it filling in any unsightly lines and creases on the subjects face.
Hard-This characteristic is perfect for showcasing edgy features like a sharp jawline or muscular definition. More often than not, hard light is more commonly associated with male talent, but hard light can also be used with female talent to express feelings of mystery or intense facial features.
Some my own examples of soft and dark lighting.
Dark tones-
Here we added gel colours on the lens to create that darker tone onto the image, we had a back light with another colour to reflect as highlight on the face this helped us to see the models features but still keep the darker tones. The background is black to help maintain the dark shade onto the face otherwise the model would stand out a lot more again a lighter and soft background.
Light Tones-
Here we didn’t use any gels but simply added some different coloured backgrounds behind the model which added a bright colour onto the models face. As you can tell the middle photo with the black background looks quite dark whereas the brighter backgrounds add that soft features. The models face is quite lit up and all facial features are shown clearly.
Henry Mullins started working at 230 Regent Street in London in the 1840s and moved to Jersey in July 1848, setting up a studio known as the Royal Saloon, at 7 Royal Square. Initially he was in partnership with a Mr Millward, about whom very little is known.
An advertisement in the Jersey Times of 5 June 1849 states that “Portraits are taken in groups of two or three, or the single figure, or bust, and of various sizes, even small enough for a ring, the charge for which is reduced to one half of that in London, viz: 10s 6d for the portrait complete. Instruction given in the Calotype, Energiatype, or photographic processes, and proficiency guaranteed for a fee of five guineas”.
After his death his collection of over 20,000 negatives was acquired in 1883 by Clarence philip Ouless and formed part of his collection which was given to La Société in 2006.
henry Mullins was a photographer who took portraits of people he would then print these photos on a carte de visite as a small albumen print, (the first commercial photographic print produced using egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper) which was a thin paper photograph mounted on a thicker paper card. Henry Mullins was the first professional photographer to come to Jersey and establish a portraiture business in the very early days of photography.His speciality was cartes de visite and the photographic archive of La Société contains a massive collection of these. His online archive contains 9600 images, but the majority of these are sets of up to 16 photographs taken at a single sitting. In those times even 10s 6d was a substantial sum to pay to have one’s photograph taken, and included among his subjects are many of the island’s affluent and influential people.
Some headshots by Mullins of both Jersey men and women produced as vignette portrait which was a common technique used in mid to late 19th century.
His photographs are taken very differently as some people were sitting from an angle and others are sat looking straight at the camera, these different photos change the tone of each photo as you could get one to look more professional and others look more like memorable portraits to keep, it also depends on their facial expression and whether they are looking at the camera or to the side. The top right image almost looks like it a family portrait and there is more than one people in the photo as we can very clearly see someone’s hands on the girls shoulder which shows u that Henry Mullins took all types of photos whether they were single portraits or group portraits. Personally I really like the one in the middle on the bottom row as you can see a dark shadow behind the girl an the it begins t be light again which really adds effect to the photo. You can also see some of the peoples clothes so its not just a face that is visible, this makes the photo look more interesting to look at. I also like how Henry has written the persons name under each of their photos so that they could be remembered.
Here we have an article explaining how Henry has opened his new studio in 1848, this gives us so much information, this helps us understand when he started to open his studio and take photos. The small bit of article helps me see that he was a good photographer and that people wanted him to take portraits of them, they views him quite well.
Portrait photography, also referred to as portraiture, is a type of photography in which the subject is one or more people and the aim is to convey something about the subject’s identity, personality, or story.
Basic Lighting
Rembrandt Lighting
Rembrandt Lighting is a technique for portrait photography named after Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, the great Dutch painter. It refers to a way of lighting a face so that an upside-down light triangle appears under the eyes of the subject.
Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly lighting is a type of portrait lighting technique used primarily in a studio setting. Its name comes from the butterfly-shaped shadow that forms under the nose because the light comes from above the camera. You may also hear it called ‘paramount lighting’ or ‘glamour lighting’.
MY FAVOURITE PHOTO:
Personally I really like this photo as its not too simple but not too much, I made the model use a prop and had an idea of using something to make their smile wider, This added colour and perception to the photo, I made the photo black and white but made sure that some colour was still shown as I didn’t like how bright the original colour was, this photo makes me feel very happy as the model is very smiley and the photo isn’t black and white, colour makes the photo look more powerful. I really like how they turned out however if I could I would have liked to not get the chair into the photo to make it more mysterious. I do really like how we used a prop as it adds effect to the photo and its isn’t seen as basic and boring like some of my other photos although sometimes simple is better and too much details can ruin it.
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.
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 type of portrait lighting technique used primarily in a studio setting. Its name comes from the butterfly-shaped shadow that forms under the nose because the light comes from above the camera. You may also hear it called ‘paramount lighting’ or ‘glamour lighting’.
What is the butterfly lighting?
Description: Butterfly lighting is a portrait lighting pattern where the key light is placed above and directly centered with a subject’s face. This creates a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly. It’s also known as ‘Paramount lighting,’ named for classic Hollywood glamour photography.
What is the difference between paramount lighting and butterfly lighting?
Paramount lighting is when the light is placed directly in front of the subject at a slightly downward angle, creating a shadow directly beneath the subject’s nose. When the light is high enough, at times this will be called ‘butterfly lighting’ because the shadow under the nose may resemble the wings of a butterfly.
Butterfly lighting dates back to some of the earliest glamour shots. Specifically, Marlene Dietrich, a German silent film actress, who became a Hollywood star in the 1930s, was presented on film in a way that gave this look its name.Marie Magdalene “Marlene” Dietrich was a German and American actress and singer whose career spanned from the 1910s to the 1980s.
What camera is best for butterfly photography?
However, most photographers prefer a DSLR or mirrorless camera/lens combination. I have had good results with my older Canon 7D Mark II but I prefer my current Canon R5 mirrorless camera. This allows focus peaking in manual focus mode, which helps by highlighting the sharply focused edges in a conspicuous colour.
What is the best setting for butterfly photography?
To capture sharp images of fluttering or darting butterflies, a shutter speed of 1/400 and more is advisable. Beginners should better start shooting in S mode or shutter priority mode of the camera. After gathering some experience, they can shift to manual mode.
Why do photographers use butterfly lighting?
Butterfly light creates shadows under the cheeks and chin but adds lots of light to the other part of the face. This can help minimize a double chin and fills in shadows in wrinkles. It’s an easy way to give an older subject a brighter, more youthful appearance.
Marlene Dietrich
(1901-1992)
One of the most popular film and music stars of the 1930s and 1940s, Marlene Dietrich was known for her fashionable style and diverse portrayals of women. She was a firm advocate for the American war effort, contributing much of her time, energy and musical talents to aid the troops. The Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich was one of the most prominent political refugees of her generation, speaking out against Hitler and singing for the US troops in World War II. Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich was a living legend, famous for performances in movies such as “Blue Angel” and “Touch of Evil”.
An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings. The term is most frequently used of a genre of photography
Here I went round my school to take some photos of Environmental portraits, I made the photos black and white to recreate Alys Tomlinson photos she had created herself, having photos in black and white really changes the perspective of the photo as it could change the tone and mood of each photo, normally when I see a black and white photo I feel quite low and down however it could suggest that the photograph is modern, or even old as they didn’t have coloured photos back in the day, these little details change so much about the photograph and makes the viewer want to explore so much more about what this photo could actually mean, and what it represents.
Here I went round school and took photos of students and teachers to get a perspective of what they do during the day and to get a different environment behind each model. I chose to take pictures around my school as there are any different people inside of a school, For example I could take pictures of the canteen staff as they would be in a kitchen and wearing different clothes. However taking pictures of students would be slightly different as half of the students are wearing their own clothes which makes it slightly difficult to identify that they are students but we do know that they are young people. I also went to the science lab and took pictures of some of the technicians around the science rooms to show the chemicals and the different equipment they use. This helped me to identify that different people go to different surroundings each day to do different things they may enjoy or not. The pictures that i took of the students were mainly of them walking around school or sat down however if I were to recreate this I would have a student sat at a desk with a text book in front of them to really show that the are studying and engaging in school although students don’t just study at school we also explore friendships and many different things.
“An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings. The term is most frequently used of a genre of photography”
Environmental portraits to me are when a person is a main model who stands in the frame of the photograph with a heavy background behind them meaning its busy and many tings can be observed, this helps us to see what the photograph is about and helps us observe the main properties.
Good environmental portraits will tell strong stories of their subjects. Their immediate surroundings will give the viewer insight into where these people are, what they do, and who they are. Locations that help to tell a person’s story could be places where they relax, work, or play: Their home.
ideas of environmental portraits:
having one main character with many people in the background doing something, For example, a chef is the main person standing in front of the camera and there are servants in the background running around trying to get the food plated up.
taking photographs of only the face and nothing else meaning the body is cropped out of the photo. This will put a main focus on the face and possibly the background, I could get the model to go to a beach or maybe a field to really show the environmental aspects.
taking a picture of on person being busy their main focus isn’t on the camera but on the job they are doing. We could get there whole body in the photograph to help see their body language to really understand the point of the photo.
I could take a picture of someone’s whole body facing me and looking at the camera and then changing the colour to black and white to add a different perspective on the emotions, or whether how old the photo maybe look like it is.
different ideas to consider:
ARTISTS:
August Sander (1876 – 1964)
Paul Strand (1890 – 1976)
Arnold Newman (1918 – 2006)
Daniel Mordzinski (1960 – )
Annie Leibovitz (1949 – )
Mary Ellen Mark (1940 – 2015)
PLACES TO TAKE PICTURES:
this can include jobs or hobbies, cultures, religions and your mood.
