How to Do Dramatic Photography Lighting
Dramatic photography lighting requires contrast in the image. A photographer creates contrast in an image through different light sources and intensity of light. Dramatic lighting utilizes a key light, back light, eye light, fill light, reflected light and sculpted light. Lighting techniques vary for indoor to outdoor photo shoots.
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Instructions
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Select an indoor or outdoor location with ample space and electrical outlets to set up a minimum of three lights. Use a key light, a back light and an eye light. The key light is the main source of light directed towards your subject. The back light adds dimension within the scene behind the main subject. The eye light adds a sparkle to the human subject's eyes.
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Choose a location away from a plain, flat wall. Leave three feet between the backdrop and the subject, so a back light can be placed in between them. This lighting technique helps the two-dimensional image appear three-dimensional. This effect brings the subject of the photograph to life.
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Place a main directional light on the subject and adjust the intensity based on the subject's skin tone. A high-intensity key light can wash out a person's pale skin or reflect off an individual's dark complexion. Physically move the light away from the subject to reduce intensity or toward him to increase intensity.
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Add an eye light slightly to the left or right side of the camera, directed towards the subject's eyes. Use a low-intensity light so you don't blind the subject. Look into the subject's eyes to see if the light is captured in both eyes.
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Add a back light in the background, such as a lit candle or table lamp. A high back light can give a subtle halo effect or add highlights to the model's hair. A street lamp is often used to create this effect in an outdoor night scene.
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Control and manipulate the light. Use a spot meter to measure the light intensity. Set the exposure for the brightest spot to avoid overexposure. Add a fill light if the shadow areas are too dark to read with the spot meter. Use a large diffused fill light to brighten up the entire room. Otherwise, the key light may give a spotlight effect on an extremely dark background.
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Time the photo shoot perfectly. Shoot outside at sunrise or sunset when the light changes. An outdoor light source may be too bright at mid-day or too dark at night. In a beach scene, the overpowering sun can cause undesired silhouettes and shadows. A large beach umbrella behind the subject can help control the light.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a plain white bounce board to bounce light onto the subject and neutralize shadows. Avoid unnatural shadows. Consider a battery-powered light source to fill in a heavily shaded area, such as under a tree.
Secure light sources with sand bags and cables with tape. Use bounce boards and other reflective boards cautiously during extreme weather conditions. They can fly away and cause injuries.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
