Odd Lighting Photography Ideas
There is more to photography than simply shooting away with your camera. Lighting can make or break a photo; by playing around with lighting techniques, you can dramatically alter the finished image.
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Black Scarf
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A simple black scarf or piece of fabric can be stretched across the lens of the camera to diffuse light, creating a softer image. This is particularly useful if you’re using harsh artificial lighting, which can look plastic. The black scarf technique is often employed in glamour photography. It has the added bonus of making any blemishes on the model’s skin less apparent. It’s also useful to widen the aperture of the camera if you’re trying to achieve a soft, diffused effect.
Colored Reflectors
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Reflectors are usually large, round pieces of material that can be folded up very small, making it easy to transport them. As the name suggests, they are used to reflect the light of the sun or of artificial lighting to create a softer image and avoid spots of light on the person or object you are shooting. If you use a gold or silver reflector rather than a white one, you can also change the color of the light, adding dramatic tones to your image.
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Fluorescent Lighting
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Using fluorescent lights in a room can make the image appear brighter and, oddly enough, more natural than if you use normal lighting. Lighting will also appear more even; however, it is not ideal for photographing people because it can make shadows under the eyes seem more prominent.
Homemade Soft Box
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If you’re using a flash, particularly if you’re shooting indoors, you run the risk of creating odd shadows and flashlights that will show up on the finished photographs. Soft boxes can help to disperse these shadows but, unfortunately, they can be expensive and are big and bulky. You can easily make your own soft box by using a cardboard box. Cut out one side of it and cover it with a sheet of thin white fabric, or any other color if you’re experimenting. The soft box can be positioned above or beneath the flash.
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References
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics/Creatas/Getty Images
