Lighting

In yesterdays lesson (9/1/2014) we started looking at the different aspects that make up taking the perfect photos for our media magazine. We started of by looking at the best position to place the photo on the magazine. We learned that the positioning of the image is crucial as it could affect the overall layout of the magazine cover.

Next we looked at the three key lighting aspects that are used to create a perfect portrait photograph. These aspects are;

Hair light: A hair light in a portrait setup adds dimension and drama to the image by accenting the shoulders and crown of the subject. Like adding spice to a dish, adding a disproportionate amount of hair light can overpower the other lighting and ruin the final image. A hair light in a portrait setup adds dimension and drama to the image by accenting the shoulders and crown of the subject. Like adding spice to a dish, adding a disproportionate amount of hair light can overpower the other lighting and ruin the final image.

Filler light: Fill light is any source of illumination that lightens (fills in) areas of shadow created by other lights.  Most often, fill light is used to lighten the shadows created by the main (key) light.  The fill source is generally indistinct and lightens while not imparting character or noticeable shadows of its own.  Some images, especially those requiring a dramatic mood, are best with little or no fill lighting.  However, most images will require some form of fill lighting to keep the image shadows and highlights within the dynamic range of the output medium. 

Key light:  The key light is the first and usually most important light that a photographer, cinematographer lighting cameraman, or other scene composer will use in a lighting setup. The purpose of the key light is to highlight the form and dimension of the subject. The key light is not a rigid requirement; omitting the key light can result in a silhouette effect. Many key lights may be placed in a scene to illuminate a moving subject at opportune moments.

From looking as these different lighting aspects, I can use them to create a decent picture for my first attempt at a magazine cover.