Still Photography And Lighting
Quality photography is an art. It is a lot more intense than point and click. The perfect photo involves good lighting. Lighting has a lot to do not only with adding lights at proper angles but the camera that is used. There are many different types of lighting apparatus and many different ways to use it depending on the type of image you want for your photo. The purpose for the photo and knowing your subject will determine the kind of lighting you want to use for the perfect picture.
What does it mean to know the subject?
Many individuals and things can be encompassed by a still. For instance, shooting a model in a high fashion situation you will definitely need to have plenty of light while taking a picture for a book cover of the author needs different kinds of lighting that will produce a dramatic image. Shooting a bowl of fruit or a car might require a spot light.
How can I change the lighting or make it more dramatic?
Most photographers use things like reflectors that are either silver or white or they will use boards that are black to create shadow effects. The white will absorb shadows while the black will create them. You can also change the angles of the lighting. Regular household bulbs are known as tungsten lights. As a rule of thumb most cameras on the market today are made for bright lighting.
How do I know how to position my lighting?
Two common kinds of set-ups will not require huge set-ups. Only two lights are required for the first set up. One is about six feet away from the object of the photograph and it will be placed at a 45 degree angle. Light number two is going to be focused on the background. The background should be white to make the focal point stand out. If you don’t use a white background, it will turn out gray. You may want to try having one light shot through the umbrella, while another is shot toward the background. The umbrella is actually a big soft box that creates overhead lighting. The model may then hold a reflector to prevent any unwanted shadows from forming.
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