How to Take Photographs Under Tungsten Light

Manipulating the lighting for any given photo or the environment changes the entire look of the photograph. Many digital cameras have settings that allow the user to make adjustments for particular lighting effects. There are a few tricks to achieving professional results when taking photographs under a tungsten light.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Set up a bank or wall of tungsten lighting on both sides of the model. Let the lighting wrap in an arc to face the subject at 45-degree angles in front of it.

2. Adjust the camera's white balance to recognize the tungsten lighting environment. Check the camera's owner's manual for instructions for that particular camera make and model. Most of these settings are under the menu options on the camera.

3. Compose the photograph and take a meter reading of the scene with the camera's on-board metering unit or with a handheld spot-meter. This provides the photographer with a touchstone to start adjusting the camera settings for tungsten light.

4. Take series of test shots to determine composition under the lighting. Move lights to better enhance the scene or move the model or subject accordingly. Tungsten offers a bluish tint to some photos, so wearing contrasting colors often helps to balance tonal range.

Tips & Warnings

• Compose and shoot the subject under tungsten lights with a digital camera before committing to a film exposure. This saves film costs and better assists the photographer with ideas and work flow.
• Use a tungsten filter in front of the lens system of the camera if there is no setting for tungsten photography in the camera. Find these filters at any camera store.