Light Basics and Vocabulary

Butterfly (or Paramount) --

• 1. What effect does it create? Makes a shadow under the nose and neck.
• 2. Why use it? To make variety of faces.
• 3. How many lights or light sources? 3

Loop -- 

• 1. What effect does it create? Illuminate only half of the face.
• 2. Why use it? It can narrow a wide face or nose. It can be used to with a weak fill to hide facial irregularities.
• 3. How many lights or light sources? 3

Rembrandt --

• 1. What effect does it create?This lighting creates a small triangle on the right side of the face.
• 2. Why use it?It gives a classic look that highlights one side of the face.
• 3. How many lights or light sources? 3

Split --

• 1. What effect does it create?it creates a strong dark side and lite side to the face, where the line runs right down the middle of the face.
• 2. Why use it?to create a dramatic and interesting photo
• 3. How many lights or light sources? 3

Broad and Short --

• 1. What effect does it create?
• 2. Why use it?
• 3. How many lights or light sources? 3

Part 2
Define
 

Fill light-A light that is used to lighten shadow, it doesn't change the main lighting just slightly brightens.

 

Key light (main light)- The main light source when taking studio photos

 

Hair light- A light that is aimed at the hair, it helps separate the person from the background and adds highlights.

 

Background light- a light that helps illuminate the background of the set, and like the hair light, it helpseparate the background from the subject.

 

Shadowless- the whole subject is illuminated and there are no shadows visible

 

 Hard light- is when the light is small compared to the subject.

 

Soft light- is when the light is bigger compared to the subject.

Grey card-  helps produce a consistent light and exposure in photographs

 

 

Reflector- reflects light in a direction where the studio lights cannot be moved to.

 

 

Diffuser- Helps soften lights and not make the photo look so harsh.

Part 3

Five Characteristics of Light

Direction: See where you at and think from where are you getting the light or you will get it.
Intensity: Make like a hypothesis of how strong the light wouldl be depending the light you are using or are in the place you are.
Color: what is the color you are using.
Contrast:does the highlights help you with your picture.. are they soft or strong?
Hardness: what kind of shadows are appearing with the light you have