Lighting is everything. If you take a picture without considering the lighting you might get an image that looks like you didn’t put any thought into it. This week for PH 600 Digital Photography Concepts and Techniques class, I had to take four pictures of one person in different lighting situations.
I felt a little nervous as I thought about the lighting that I would use for these four photographs. The assignment wants us to make portfolio gallery photos but how could I do this with front lighting if the final result would look flat. I could use natural light, but the light from the sun coming from the top at 1 pm can make a portrait look awkward casting shadows in unwanted places. According to the textbook, top lighting is a great technique for landscapes but not recommend for portraits of people.
I was also thinking of using bottom lighting, which causes a tense and eerie feel to the photograph. Soft light and hard light are also options that I am considering to tell a story with impact or just showing soft details in the face. Side lighting is also an option, and this one is the best one to help you get those thoughtful details that everyone likes to see in photographs.
In the end, I chose to stay inside and take my pictures because I’m still recovering from my ankle (It’s feeling so much better. Thanks for all the supportive comments) I decided to use a lamp in the dark to capture the bottom lighting, which in fact was very awkward. I also took so many side lighting pictures but I think the shutter speed I used in the picture wasn’t low enough. I was so frustrated with the outcome maybe I needed to use 3 instead of 1/2.
I also use front lighting which was very unflattering to say the least. I wouldn’t use this for a portrait shot. Maybe if the lighting wasn’t so harsh. But anyway, I digress.
Finally I used soft lighting, which I think came out better than the rest. The lighting was soft and the texture across my hair and face was also soft. I don’t think I will share the pictures because I didn’t like the final outcome. Though I was supposed to make portfolio quality pictures these didn’t come out nice. I think I’ve done better in the past.
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Much love,
Rosa de Saron C.