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Lighting

Light is the fundamental component of photography that allows images to be captured. There are different types of light sources including natural light from the sun, available light from light bulbs, and supplementary light like flashes or studio lights. Photographers describe light based on its brightness, color temperature, direction, size of the light source, and how it interacts with subjects. Proper lighting is crucial for controlling the exposure, mood, shadows, and texture of an image. Different lighting setups and equipment like flashes, umbrellas, and softboxes allow photographers to manipulate the light.

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Lighting

Light is the fundamental component of photography that allows images to be captured. There are different types of light sources including natural light from the sun, available light from light bulbs, and supplementary light like flashes or studio lights. Photographers describe light based on its brightness, color temperature, direction, size of the light source, and how it interacts with subjects. Proper lighting is crucial for controlling the exposure, mood, shadows, and texture of an image. Different lighting setups and equipment like flashes, umbrellas, and softboxes allow photographers to manipulate the light.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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LIGHTING

____________________________________________________

Light is the most fundamental component of a photograph.


It creates a picture by reflecting off a subject and traveling through the lens
to expose the image sensor. The light source determines the type of light
and the surface of the subject determines the type of reflection.

Types of Light Sources

1. Natural – Sun
2. Available Light – lightbulbs, streetlights, fluorescent bulbs or a
combination of natural and artificial sources
3. Supplementary Light – Flash, Strobe, Continuous Light (hot light)

How Photographers Describe Light

1. Brightness (or intensity) – getting enough light is crucial and effects


the flexibility of exposure.
Bright light - allows for smaller aperture, faster shutter speed,
and/or lower ISO
Low Light - requires wider lens aperture, slower shutter speed,
and/or higher ISO

Some light sources are inherently more intense such as midday sun or
stadium lights. The intensity of light will influence the overall mood of
a photograph.

2. Color – temperature of light (measured by Kelvins), examples of


different light sources that have distinctly different color
temperatures: daylight (blueish white/cooler), tungsten
(yellow/warmer), fluorescent (green)

2000K WARMER (more red)


3200K light at sunset (warmer)
3200K Hot Light (orange/yellow cast)
3200K, 3400K tungsten
5500K daylight
5000-6000K strobe (daylight balanced)
8000K rainy day (cooler)
10,000K COOLER (more blue)

3. Contrast
The appearance of shadows indicates high or low contrast
a. high contrast – typically a small light source, light source hits
subject from nearly the same angle (noon sun). Highlights are
bright, shadows are deep, texture is emphasized, and picture
has good contrast.
b. low contrast – typically a large light source, light source hits
subject from many different angles (overcast, sunlight is diffused
and scattered). Less contrast, less defined edges, and fewer dark
shadows.

4. Highlights
Hard highlights - small light source
Soft highlights - large light source

5. Direction
The direction of light can emphasize the surface texture of a
subject. Frontal lighting, backlighting, and side lighting all
produce different effects and moods.

3 Important Qualities of Light

1. Size of Light Source


2. Type of Reflections
3. Family of Angles

How a Subject Influences Lighting

1. Transmits - when light passes through subject (i.e. glass)


2. Absorbs - most subjects absorb some of the light (black velvet
completely absorbs)
3. Reflects - when light strikes the subject and bounces off (this is how
we see things)

Types of Reflections

1. Diffuse Reflections – some brightness regardless of angle


2. Direct Reflection – aka specular refractions, mirror image of light
source, the mirror image would not be seen from all angles

Family of Angles

Any angle where the light source produces a reflection


Distance of Light Source to Subject

The closer the light source, the brighter the light


The closer the light source, the larger the light source and therefore
the softer the light (more wrap, softer shadows)

Supplementary Light - Flash

Useful for fill light, stopping motion, or in low light situations.

3 Types of Flash

1. Built-in – flash that is integrated into the body of the camera. It is


convenient and automatic, but not very powerful or versatile. Its
useful range is generally 10 feet or less and can only aim directly at
your subject rather than at an angle.

2. Portable – Flash units that attach to the hot shoe on the camera.
They are more powerful and versatile than built-in flashes. They often
come with diffusions and can swivel so light can be bounced off ceiling
or a wall. Some have a range of up to 30 feet.

3. Studio – Studio lighting involves lighting equipment, stands, and


light modifiers (ie umbrellas, light banks). You have more control with
studio lighting than built-in or portable flash. Studio lights can be
strobes or continuous/hot lights or a combination (some strobes and
hot lights are portable).

* Notes

1. To sync with you flash while in manual mode, your shutter speed
must be set to 1/125, 1/60, or lower.

2. The further the light, the more fall off you will have

3. ” Dragging the shutter” is a technique used to blend available light


with supplementary light and open up the shadows and background
of an image. To accomplish this, one would set a slower shutter
speed.
Supplementary Light – Continuous / Hot Light

Continuous/Hot lights are typically used in the studio. The color


temperature is warmer than strobes. They are called continuous
because they stay on until they are switched off and they are called
hot because they typically generate a lot of heat (be careful!). There
are also continuous lights that are not hot, such as LED panels and
fluorescents.

Barn Doors are typical accessories for hot lights. They are adjustable
flaps that are used to manipulate the light spread.

Supplementary Light – Strobes

Strobes are typically used in the studio, but can be used on location
with portable packs. The color temperature is daylight balanced so
neutral to a little cool. Strobes are not continuous as they provide light
in quick bursts. They can get their power from internal batteries
(monoheads) or external power packs. Most strobes have a modeling
light, which is a continuous lamp that helps preview the light. Strobes
are synced with the camera via a sync cord or wireless remotes.

Equipment Vocabulary

Light Head - Component of a studio flash, incorporating the flash tube,


modeling light, and possibly a cooling fan.

Kick Stand - Three-legged folding metal structure designed to support light


heads.

Reflector - Panel used to bounce light-whether natural, continuous, or flash.

Umbrella - Folding reflector or diffuser. It’s usually cheaper than a softbox


and sometimes comes packaged with light kits. Umbrellas are used to
soften a light source-either by bouncing light off it or directing light
through it.

Softbox - Boxlike enclosure for studio lighting with opaque side panels and a
translucent front panel. Designed to produce even, soft lighting.

Seamless - Wide roll of matte surface paper that comes in different colors.
Seamless unrolls to provide a backdrop for photographing in the
studio.
Sync Cord - The cord that connects the strobe to the camera so that the
strobe flashes when the shutter is pressed.

Wireless Remote (Pocket Wizards) - A cordless flash trigger that can be used
instead of a sync cord to fire a strobe when you press the shutter.

Basic Lighting Setups

Key Light - The dominant light source. The key can be positioned
anywhere as long as it’s brighter than any other light source in the
picture.

Fill Light - A good way to brighten shadows or “fill the shadows”. The
goal with the fill light is to fill the shadows enough to reveal the details
but not so much that it flattens the picture.

Background Light - To create more separation between the subject and


the background an additional light can be used.

*Content pulled from “Digital Photography, A Basic Manual” by Henry Horenstein and “Light, Science,
and Magic” by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua.

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