2. Topics Principles of Artificial Lighting Basic Studio Lighting Portrait lighting Studio lighting and Exposure
3. Principles of artificial lighting Why use artificial light? Lack of adequate natural light Take control of the light Make a photograph; don’t just take it. Shooting with artificial light is like: “Sculpting with LIGHT”
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6. Categories of studio light Continuous + Cheap + See what the light is doing - Produces more heat than light - Not balanced to daylight Flash + Balanced to daylight (5500K) + Saves power
7. Basic four light setup Key Light(M) The main light source/ brightest light source Fill light (F) Soften the shadows formed by Key light Background light(B1) Lights background and not the subject Accent lights(H, B2) Adds a rim light to separate subject from background. Also called “kicker light”
8. Steps in preparing lighting setup Decide on general effect visualize; determine type/direction/angle of light 2. Add the key light(s) - create dominant set of highlight & shadows 3. Place the fill lights - Adjust light ratio to obtain desired effect 4. Separate subject from background - Add background light - Add kicker light (optional) - Subject should not be close to background (min 5 feet) - Lights should not add to any secondary highlight or shadows 5. Make final adjustments - take sample shot, analyze and readjust - look out for unwanted highlights/shadows, catchlights
9. Studio equipments Light Source Studio lights Tripods/Stands Triggers Light Modifiers Diffusers Umbrella Soft Box (normal, strip, octabox) Deflectors Reflectors Snoot Grid Barn door Color gels Light meter Accessories Backdrop Props
17. Exposure in studio lighting Shutter speed in camera has no control on exposure as your camera cannot shoot faster than your camera SYNC speed, it is 1/200. Exposure can be controlled by : 1. The power of the light 2. Aperture of the lens 3. ISO setting
18. How to control studio light power Controls on Light system ( Full, ½, ¼, 1/8 ) Distance of light from subject. Inverse Square Law applies here ( so if you move your subject from 3 feet away to 6 feet away, your light power will reduce by 4 times or you will need four times more light)
19. Aperture and f stops For aperture control under studio lights, same principle applies. Exposure halves by increase in each f-stop f/8, Full power @ ISO 200 will give same exposure as f/5.6, ½ power @ ISO 200 The full f stops are 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22