NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY-Lighting-2

Lighting 2

In the tutorial Lighting-1 we learned about some of the characteristics of light. Let us now see some more of them.

Angle/direction of light

Position of the light source in relation to the positions of subject and camera is another important factor, which decides the effect as achieved in a photograph. Let us now discuss about the different lighting angles the light falls on the subject from.

1) Frontal lighting/flat lighting: The light source is either close to the camera or coming from the same direction as camera, hence the light comes on the subject from its front side. The situation may also be described as ‘sun behind the camera'. Source illuminates most of the
front side of the subject as a result shadows are minimized. The resultant picture looks flat, no illusion of depth or naturalness. The lighting is rarely used for portraiture or product photography, though said to be good for copying and generally used for ID & PP photos in a studio. Function photographs and snapshots always look flat because they are shot with
a flash attached to the camera.

Flat lighting: No naturalness or illusion of depth.

2) Half Side Lighting/Model Lighting: Light source makes an angle of about 45 ° . The angle is measured between the two lines, firstly the one joining the camera and subject and secondly the line joining the source and subject. Some shadows are cast on one side of the subject, which are recorded by camera giving the impression of naturalness and solidity. A three-dimensional object though recorded on a flat surface of photograph now creates the feeling of depth or the third dimension. This is called as a modeling effect hence the name Model Lighting. The lighting is said to be good for portraiture and product photography

Half side lighting: Photo reveals the shape of the object, gives illusion of depth and naturalness.

3) Side Lighting/Split Lighting: The source is now placed at one side of the subject making an angle of about 90 ° as a result the subject is split into two equal parts, one highlighted and other under shadows. This is a very good lighting angle for showing surface textures, carving on a surface etc. Mid day sunlight enhances the texture of a brick wall as it strikes the wall through almost 90 ° . Split lighting is rarely used for portraiture. A sitter with heavy blemishes on the face should never be shot with side lighting, as the blemished skin would be clearly recorded in the picture. The lighting may be useful for one who wears spectacles to avoid reflections in the glasses.

Side lighting/Split lighting: Subject is split in two equal parts.

A Biscuit shot with frontal lighting. Photo doesn't show the texture/embossing clearly

Same Biscuit shot with side lighting. Photo now shows the texture/embossing clearly

4) Back Lighting/Pictorial Lighting: The light source is not in front but on the backside of the subject either on the left side or the right. This angle creates a cut light or rim light effect at one side of the subject giving an attractive look. Back lighting is commonly used for pictorial shots. Portraits also look most attractive if shot with source behind the subject.

Back Lighting: Illuminates only a narrow edge of the subject giving a cut light effect

5) Total Back Lighting: The entire front side of the subject remains under shadows creating a silhouette. A silhouette is a black subject against a bright background. Silhouettes too look attractive and are possible to shoot outdoors early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is very low in the sky.

We have thus seen the effects of different lighting angles. While shooting any subject indoors or outdoors one has to consider these lighting angles.

Lighting 1

::  Text and photographs by ::
     Prof Manohar Desai
     Director,
     National Institute of Photography. Dadar, Mumbai

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