Basics:

Lighting can be used in many different ways to achieve many unique photos. Studio lighting in particular is great for portraits. It is often used in many different ways, from flash to a technique called practical lighting which is where the light source is visible in the frame but appears natural light a lamp in a set of a living room. Within portraiture there are many different techniques used to achieve the perfect shot.

• Intensity of the light
• Direction of the light
• Temperature of the Light (Warm or cold + white balance)
• use of ” the golden hour”
• Using reflectors (silver/gold)

Here are some photography lighting basics to help you understand how to effectively use light in your images:

1. Natural vs. Artificial Light: Natural light comes from the sun and varies in intensity and color throughout the day. Artificial light includes studio lights, flash, and other sources that can be controlled and manipulated.
2. Key Light: This is the main light source in a scene, providing the primary illumination. It shapes the subject and creates highlights and shadows.
3. Fill Light: This softer light is used to fill in shadows created by the key light, ensuring a balanced exposure without harsh contrasts.
4. Back Light: Positioned behind the subject, this light creates separation from the background and adds depth, often resulting in a rim light effect.
5. Light Direction: The angle at which light hits the subject can dramatically affect the mood and texture. Front lighting reduces shadows, while side lighting adds dimension, and back lighting creates silhouettes.
6. Quality of Light: Light can be hard (direct, creating sharp shadows) or soft (diffused, creating gentle transitions). Soft light is often preferred for portraits as it flatters the subject.
7. Color Temperature: Different light sources have varying color temperatures, measured in Kelvin. Warm light (lower Kelvin) appears yellow/orange, while cool light (higher Kelvin) appears blue. Understanding this helps achieve the desired mood.
8. Modifiers: Tools like reflectors, diffusers, and softboxes can modify the quality and direction of light, allowing for greater control over the lighting in your images.
9. Exposure Triangle: Understanding how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together helps you properly expose images in different lighting conditions.
10. Lighting Patterns: Familiarize yourself with common lighting patterns (like Rembrandt, butterfly, and loop lighting) to create specific effects and enhance your portraits.

By mastering these basics, you can effectively manipulate light to enhance your photography and achieve the desired artistic outcomes.

Butterfly Lighting

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’.

Butterfly lighting, also known as “paramount lighting,” is a popular portrait lighting technique characterized by the creation of a butterfly-shaped shadow under the subject’s nose. This effect is achieved by placing the key light directly in front of and above the subject, typically at a 45-degree angle. The resulting shadows enhance the cheekbones and create a flattering, sculpted look, making it particularly effective for beauty and glamour photography. Butterfly lighting works well with a soft light source, as it minimizes harsh shadows and produces a smooth, even illumination on the face. This technique is often used to convey a sense of elegance and sophistication, making it a favorite among portrait photographers.

What is it used for?

Butterfly lighting is used for portraits, because it is a lighting that flatters almost everyone, as it can highlight cheekbones and create shadows under them, as well as under the neck, which makes the model look thinner. This makes it the most commonly used lighting setups. This lighting has also been used for famous stars, from classic Hollywood and that’s why it’s also called Paramount lighting.

People use butterfly lighting for several reasons:

1. Flattering Appearance: The technique accentuates cheekbones and creates a sculpted look, often resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing portrait.
2. Soft Shadows: When using a soft light source, butterfly lighting minimizes harsh shadows, providing a smooth and even illumination that flatters the subject’s features.
3. Elegant Aesthetic: This lighting style conveys a sense of sophistication and glamour, making it ideal for beauty, fashion, and high-end portrait photography.
4. Highlighting Details: By illuminating the face from above, butterfly lighting highlights facial features such as the eyes and lips, enhancing the overall impact of the image.
5. Versatility: It can be effectively used in various contexts, from studio portraits to outdoor shoots, allowing photographers to achieve a polished look in diverse settings.

Overall, butterfly lighting is favored for its ability to enhance beauty and create striking, professional-quality images.

How to create it:

Butterfly lighting requires a key light that can be a flash unit or continuous. If continuous, it can be artificial or natural. In other words, you can use strobes, speed lights, LEDs or even the sun. A butterfly lighting effect refers to the setup and not to the quality of light – it can be soft or hard light depending on the effect you want. If you want to create a soft light, you’ll need to use modifiers. A beauty dish is perfect for glamour photography as it distributes the light evenly and smooths the skin. You can also use a soft box or an umbrella. Instead, if you want to have hard light, you can leave the light source as it is. Alternatively, you can use grid spots to direct it and create different effects.

To use butterfly lighting effectively, follow these steps:

1. Position Your Light Source: Place the key light directly in front of and above the subject, typically at a 45-degree angle. This positioning is crucial for creating the signature butterfly shadow under the nose.
2. Choose the Right Light: Use a soft light source, such as a softbox or umbrella, to minimize harsh shadows and create a flattering glow on the subject’s face.
3. Adjust the Distance: Experiment with the distance of the light from the subject. Bringing the light closer can create a more dramatic effect, while moving it further away will soften the light.
4. Control the Fill Light: If necessary, use a fill light positioned at the opposite angle to reduce shadows without overpowering the key light. This helps maintain balance in the illumination.
5. Check the Shadows: Ensure the shadows created under the nose are even and not too harsh. You can adjust the height and angle of the key light as needed.
6. Consider Background and Environment: Pay attention to the background and how it interacts with the lighting. A clean, uncluttered background can enhance the subject’s prominence.
7. Use Reflectors: If desired, add a reflector below the subject to bounce light back onto their face, further softening shadows and enhancing illumination.
8. Experiment with Angles: While maintaining the primary setup, feel free to adjust the angle slightly to find the most flattering position for your subject.

By following these steps, you can effectively utilize butterfly lighting to create beautiful, professional-quality portraits.

Experimenting:

Once you have the key light set up, it’s time to fill the shadows. You can use a reflector to bounce the light back up and soften the shadow under the chin and the one from under the nose. To do so, position the reflector under the subject’s face. Start at waist level and see how it looks. If the shadows are still strong, move it closer to the face and so on. Experiment with different positions to achieve different effects. You can also change the colour of the reflector. A white one will give you a neutral tone, while a golden one gives a warming overcast. Once you’re happy with your butterfly lighting, direct the model to have a striking fashion pose or whatever the desired pose or expression you’re looking for. Just keep in mind that the subject’s face needs to be towards the light in order to have the butterfly shadow under the nose.

Examples:

Chiaroscuro lighting

‘Chiaroscuro’ is an Italian term for lightdark as this lighting technique creates a bold contrast between light and dark. This can also be defined as a high-contrast lighting technique that utilises a low-key lighting setup to achieve contrast between the subject and a dark background. 

Chiaroscuro is an artistic technique that uses strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a sense of volume and three-dimensionality in an image. The term, derived from the Italian words “chiaro” (light) and “scuro” (dark), emphasizes the interplay of light and dark tones to enhance the dramatic effect and depth of a composition.

In painting and photography, chiaroscuro can be used to direct the viewer’s attention to specific areas of the artwork, convey mood and emotion, and add a sense of realism. This technique has been employed by many renowned artists, including Caravaggio and Rembrandt, who used it to create striking visual narratives. In photography, chiaroscuro can be achieved through careful manipulation of lighting, often involving a single light source to create deep shadows and bold highlights, enhancing the subject’s form and texture.

What is it used for?

This form actually originated in paintings during the 15th century in Italy and Holland (Flanders), yet this was truly developed a century later in Mannerism and Baroque art. Today, it is prominently used in film-making due to the striking and dramatic images this technique produces. This form of lighting adds a sense of mystery to the characteristics of the subject, making their features become framed and draw attention to the viewers eye in places they would not normally see. Caravaggio and Rembrandt used this in their paintings where dark subjects would be dramatically shined on by a shaft of light:

How to create it:

In photography, these are produced by using one key light and a variation using a reflector that reflects light from the key light back onto the sitter. The reflectors colour can be changed to produce a different tone onto the subject.

Experimenting:

Using flash, there are a range of possibilities as, depending on how you want the images produced, you can create images in low or high lighting scenarios through:

• flash “bouncing”
• fill-in flash
• TTL / speedlight flash
• remote / infra-red flash (studio lighting)
• fast + slow synch flash
• light painting c/w slow shutter speeds

For example, flash “bouncing” softens the effects and creates a larger fill area. This must be done on white walls or ceilings as the flash is directed either to the side or above the subject.

Examples:

Rembrandt lighting

Rembrandt lighting is a technique named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt. Its the cauterized by a small triangle of light on the subject cheeks opposite the light source, creating a dramatic and shadowy effect. Its often used in portrait photography to add depth and dimension to the subjects face.

What is it used for?

Many Photographers use Rembrandt lighting because it creates a dramatic and artistic effect in portraits. it involves positioning the main light, source at a 45-degree angle to the subject. creating a triangle-shaped highlight on the cheek opposite the light source. This technique adds depth and dimension to the subjects faces, accentuating their features and creating a sense of mood and atmosphere in the photograph.

How to create it:

It consists of using one light and one reflector (or two lights), instantly creating shadows and contrast. This specific technique creates a triangular shape under the subjects eye which increases the emphasis of drama to the viewer. This draws them in because the eyes are the main focal point in portraiture and something that can take on many forms and show emotion. This makes a more appealing image as it has a creative side to it – it isn’t just general light on the face and exposes the features of the face more.

Experimenting:

The lighting depends on its position to the subject. In this case, it must be 40 to 45-degree angle and higher than the subject. Flashlights and continuous lights are the correct ones to use.

Depending on how much of your subject you are aiming to shoot, you should use a 35mm or 50mm if you’re looking at including more of the subject than just the head and shoulders. However, 50mm will give a nice depth of field.

Examples:

Comparisons:

Vanessa Winship:

Mine:

The reason why I think these photos look similar is due to the lighting and colour, the brighter lighting which has then clearly been edited to have more of a black and white tint. Although the environment’s are not the same they are similar within the aspect of having a main subject and then more things going on in the background. The people photographed also have around the same age group and are not looking at the camera.

Michelle Sank: 

Mine:

This photoshoot reminds me of Michelle Sanks work because of the lighting, the natural but yet fluorescent lighting. All the people being photographed are also looking at the camera while still engaging in another thing, for example in Michelle Sanks work the girl is looking at the camera while still playing with her little brother, in my work the teachers are looking at the camera while still engaging in there own work. The photos also have the similarity of the subjects smiling.

Siân Davey:

Mine:

These photographs compare to the work of Sian Davey, due to the emotion, the emotion of joy is established in my images and in her images, this is given across by the teachers smiling and clearly enjoying what they are doing. The subjects emotion shines bright in these images. The use of body language and hands is also a key similarity, this can allow for further evaluation of the images.

Evaluation

I personally think that this is my best image, due to the use of body language, the subject is using her laptop while still maintaining eye contact and a smile with the camera, the natural lighting from outside the window clearly compares with the florescent school lighting to create this sort of nostalgic yellow tone. The composition of the image also show how the subject is almost higher up in a way, the proof of her having her own desk all while students have one that’s all joint together brushed away into the corner of the image.

• Creative Imagery
• Full or half body shots
• Capture the whole environment
• Look at lighting and poses

Photoshoot Plan:

1- shoe shop

2- skate shop

3- in the trees

4-skate park/ mel

Michelle Sank

Michelle Sank was born in Cape Town Africa, but however has been living in England since 1987. Her images reflect a preoccupation with the human condition and to this end can be viewed as social documentary. Her work encompasses issues around social and cultural diversity. Michelle Sank, “Insula”, Insula was a photoshoot that took place within Jersey, Gurnsey and Sark.

Insula

“Working outside of particular demographic scenarios Sank’s Jersey imagery continues to develop a lyrical vision within which the defining influences are place and cultural geography. As a stranger, present for a limited period only, Sank’s ‘residency photographs’ are of course procured under certain psychological precepts. In April 2013 when she arrived at the Archisle Project to undertake a six month residency, geographic and historical influences also loomed large. There were late twentieth century blanks in the archive to compensate, Jersey’s peculiar British-Norman cultural identity to contemplate, economy, politics, community, work, leisure, environment; these concerns together set against a twenty-first century backdrop.”

Image analysis

The location of this image is a well-known beach in Jersey, from my perspective of living in Jersey I know that this is a popular beach that many people use for many varied reasons, either being to swim, relax or just have an enjoyable time. From an outsider’s point of view, it clearly looks like this photo was taken on a warmer day, giving the reflection that these girls are there to enjoy their summers. The environment of the image gives context to the viewer, this tells a story about the people within the image. With the beach clearly being a public beach, it proves something of their social class, we can see that they may be more middle/lower class due to being on a public beach, one which is more known for being not a genuinely pleasant beach too. We can also interpret this from the girls ages and clothes, we can see that these girls may be in their teens and there clothing does not seem to be anything designer adding more to our assumption of their class and social status. Within the framing of this image, we can see the girls’ whole bodies, showing off their skin due to the warm weather, and may give ideas of their outfits to further add to assumptions of their wealth. The girls are clearly not smiling and are posed in a more formal way which gives off a completely different idea to us if they were posed in a more unformal way. I personally think Sank has posed them in this formal was to contrast their personalities, being their age and wearing those outfits in that setting almost proves how these girls may be more informal so the look of them being formal is a mind twister. Both of the girls are engaging with the cameras, giving a feel that they are looking directly as us, this can connotate to many things, people are generally scared of eye contact, and the idea of the girls staring at you almost makes you want to look away from the camera, they look with more of an angry gaze yet again adding to the peoples fear.  

This image represents a completely different idea than the last photo did. The environment and location of this image are in this lady’s house. We can see that the lady clearly has a cabinet behind her which are filled with things of more wealth and ore meaning hence why they are locked away. Being able to see this we can Invision her social status of something more of the upper class. There is a clear colour scheme going on here of the woman’s dress, her couch, and her curtains’, the colour red has many symbolic meaning’s, sex, anger, power but within this woman’s case it is symbolising something of power. We can see her whole body in frame and her whole entre environment, this gives an idea that she may be happy with her life and proud of what she owns and is wanting to show it off. This woman is looking at the camera in a formal way, but her body posture may be argued as formal or informal, she seems like more of a formal lady trying to assert her power with her body posture. This environmental image stems very differently from the last one I just analysed, proving that depending on the environment and person you are photographing they can all have completely different outcomes.  

The table shown above includes 6 different environmental portraits by 6 different photographers. Each different photo portrays a different type of environment , the first image portrays a girl and a boy, giving ideas of a relationship between them based on the distance between them maybe one with tensions, the idea of them in the garden and the boys clothing portrays ideas about their social class maybe being a little bit on the lower side. The environment of that image led me too all those connotations, that’s why the environment of your image is so important to the viewer’s, its sets a whole basis for thinking.

Ways in which we use environmental portraits~

Environmental Portraits can be used for many different things, a main reason being business, they are a tool that can help a business connect with its potential clients. They can show a more realistic and authentic representation of a workers everyday routine, which may make the business more appealing, opposed to regular old business headshots. Workplaces, like offices, tend to be flatly and evenly lit, which makes them good for a photoshoot without needing to set up a background. Environmental portraiture offers more options than traditional headshots when it comes to cropping photos. Capturing the subject’s stance, gestures, and corporal expression shows they are real people. Recently, it has become very common to see companies use environmental portraits instead of the classic business portraits or headshots, and it works. However, that doesn’t mean business headshots and environmental portraits are the same thing.

Environmental portraits are powerful tools in photography that convey a subject’s personality and story through their surroundings. Here are several ways to use environmental portraits effectively:

1. Contextual Storytelling: Use the background to provide context about the subject’s life, interests, or profession, enhancing the narrative and allowing viewers to gain insight into who they are.
2. Emphasizing Character: Choose settings that reflect the subject’s personality or hobbies, helping to illustrate their identity and creating a deeper connection with the viewer.
3. Creating Atmosphere: Use lighting and composition to establish a mood or atmosphere that complements the subject, enhancing the emotional impact of the portrait.
4. Capturing Action: Incorporate dynamic elements by photographing subjects engaged in activities relevant to their environment, making the portrait feel more alive and authentic.
5. Incorporating Details: Include objects or elements in the environment that hold significance for the subject, adding layers of meaning and personal touch to the image.
6. Balancing Elements: Use composition techniques to balance the subject with their environment, ensuring the viewer’s eye is drawn to the person while still appreciating the setting.
7. Highlighting Relationships: In group environmental portraits, show interactions among subjects within a shared space, emphasizing connections and relationships.
8. Experimenting with Angles: Explore different perspectives and angles to create unique and compelling compositions that highlight both the subject and their surroundings.
9. Using Natural Light: Leverage natural lighting to enhance the mood and texture of the environment, creating a more organic and engaging portrait.
10. Conveying Emotion: Use the environment to evoke specific emotions, whether it’s warmth, solitude, or vibrancy, aligning the setting with the subject’s feelings or story.

By thoughtfully integrating the subject with their environment, environmental portraits can create rich, engaging images that resonate with viewers and tell powerful stories.

What actually is an environmental portrait?

Environmental portrait photography is the art of taking pictures that will be used to tell a person’s story via its connection to a certain place. This connection often reflects the message that the environmental portrait photographer wants the viewer’s eye to receive. Great portraits of this sort will capture people’s interaction with their natural surroundings to tell strong stories that generate an emotion in the viewer, giving insight into where these people are, what they do and who they are.

An environmental portrait is a type of photography that captures a subject in their natural surroundings, providing context about their life, personality, and interests. Unlike traditional portraits that often focus solely on the subject’s face, environmental portraits incorporate elements of the background to enhance the narrative and emotional impact of the image.

These portraits often showcase the subject engaged in an activity or situated in a setting that is significant to them, such as their home, workplace, or a location that reflects their hobbies or passions. The combination of the subject and their environment helps to tell a more complete story, offering viewers insights into the individual’s identity and lifestyle. Environmental portraits can range from casual and candid to formal and composed, and they are widely used in editorial, documentary, and fine art photography.

Hoe to create a good environmental portrait

1. 1. Get to know the subject. As a photographer, you can increase your subject’s comfort in front of the camera by connecting with them on a personal level. By getting to know them a little, you’ll be able to better figure out the type of shot that reflects who they are. This is a great time to talk about possible locations, such as their workplace, their home, or an urban or natural area where they like to spend time.
2. 2. Get to know the location. Research potential locations to understand the layout and available lighting conditions so that you can come properly equipped with the right gear. Test out different portrait lighting setups if necessary to ensure you’ll get what you need.
3. 3. Make a plan. Have a few shots in mind that you know you want to capture, especially if you’re working with natural light. Depending on the available light or present colors, you may also want to instruct your subject on what they should wear, or some particular poses to try.

To create a good environmental portrait, start by choosing a location that reflects the subject’s personality, interests, or profession, ensuring it enhances the narrative of the image. Pay attention to composition by framing the subject thoughtfully within their surroundings, using elements like leading lines or the rule of thirds to guide the viewer’s eye. Utilize natural light for a softer, more organic feel, and consider the time of day to capture the best lighting conditions. Engage the subject in an activity or pose them naturally within the environment to convey authenticity and emotion. Finally, include meaningful details in the background that add depth to the story, ensuring the focus remains on the subject while still allowing the environment to play a significant role in the portrait.

Reviewing the Photos

Reviewing the photos after a photoshoot is a crucial step in ensuring the quality and integrity of the final images. This process allows photographers to assess the composition, lighting, focus, and overall aesthetic of each shot, ensuring that they have captured the intended vision and achieved the desired results.

Taking a close look at every detail is essential for identifying any potential issues or areas for improvement. Pay attention to composition and framing, ensuring that elements within the frame are well-balanced and visually appealing. Check for proper exposure and lighting, making adjustments as needed to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere of the images.

Photo #1

Within the technical aspect of this photo, I would say it has a dimmer type of lighting, the flash on the camera makes it seem as if the room was dimly lit but the flash lights up the objects I am taking photos of. I think its tonal range is quite different, it seems to have many variations, there is a big difference between the photos light parts such as the glare you can see on the plastic, compared to its dark points like the black box the objects are in. Within the visual elements of this photo, its colours are very beige and just dull in general. You can see the glare on the plastic which reflects too its texture. These are all clearly 3D objects/shapes. Some context behind this photo, would be that these are all the objects other people were taking still life photos of, so rather then being the same as all of them and propping these objects up someone where in a neat order I instead have shown them how they really were. You can see the everyday wear to theses objects in my photo and I think that’s what makes it really special as you can see these objects are really helping students produce the work they are wanting too.

Photo #2

This image is very brightly lit, you can see the florescent lighting in the celling lighting up the drum kit and the glare of the lighting really shows the rings on the cylinder which show the texture. You can see that this image is more zoomed in then how the human eye would see it and I did this because i really wanted the pure texture and the dirt on the drum kit really proves life, it proves how many songs have been played on this drum set, how many people have persuade there passion and just purely how many people this drum kit has made happy.

Photo #3

I think that this is my personal favourite photo, it may not be your typical still life photo but I personally love the contrast of the lighting within this photo. The sharp harsh flash on the camera provides a shine on the step ladder but then there is a dim area between the doors and the ladder, the dimly lit room could contain anything. The light within the door and the corridor is florescent lit my average school lights, but these lights have lit up so many people, so many different lives, lives that have gone onto so many different things, proving that everyone may come from the same place but not everyone is the same.

Photo #4

This photo has very key elements of white, the photos colour contrast makes you really focus on the blue caravan as the background is white and the other objects are white discarding the sunglasses. The light coming up through the bottom aims more focus onto the objects and really makes them clear in your point of view. The tone of this image, the clear light bottom compare too the darker background really makes you focus onto the shadows of the image, showing the size of the items I am taking photos of. The white bottle has a glare on it of the light reflecting which portrays its smooth ceramic texture. This image has a sort of repetition pattern, there are two larger objects, then two smaller objects placed in front of them, this yet again portrays the effect of size, which is part of the composition.

Photo #4

This photo has very dim lighting, some may say this photo isn’t “useable” due to how unlit it seems, but I personally like the dullness of this photo, I fell like it leaves a sense of mystery and just darkness in general, almost as if its portraying a season, the season of winter, the dull morning and the dull nights, and i feel like the emptiness of the photo which is helped with the objects composition represents the coldness. This image is a bit under exposed, leaving a little bit of a blur in the photo and a mysteriousness of what the objects of the right actually is because its so dimly lit. The image has a 3D form, you can clearly see that these are real life 3D objects, objects that are useable and grabbable. This photo mainly lead the eye to the foreground the objects which are right in the centre, but it also leads the eye to the massive white sheet in the background purely due to its vast emptiness. almost like a blackhole. I feel like the emptiness of this image has a deeper meaning, the big spaces between the objects, compared with the how far away the camera is leaving spare on the left and on the right of the objects.

I used art steps to create my virtual gallery, I have each step a pin point so that they could be fully run through when you use the program. Here is the link too my virtual gallery: https://www.artsteps.com/view/652cf5b0d9dec541009e626f

Shutter Speed: 1/45

Aperture: 5.6

ISO Setting: 400

Good Exposure

This shutter speed gives you a great result.

Shallow Depth of Field

Your current aperture setting gives you a short or narrow depth of field. Notice how your subject is sharper than your background.

Invisible Motion

You are currently on a slow shutter speed. This will turn motion into a ghost in your photo.