{"id":13833,"date":"2013-03-29T17:55:59","date_gmt":"2013-03-29T21:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=13833"},"modified":"2019-10-07T23:15:19","modified_gmt":"2019-10-08T03:15:19","slug":"studio-lighting-harder-light-dramatic-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/studio-lighting-harder-light-dramatic-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Studio lighting: harder light = dramatic light"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Studio lighting: harder light = dramatic light<\/h1>\n

When I first started exploring bounce flash<\/a>, and then off-camera flash and then progressing towards studio photography, my tendency was also instinctively towards softer light. A large light source gives you softer light, which\u00a0is also\u00a0more forgiving in terms of how you position your subject and yourself in relation to the light. A large light source is easy to work with because it creates softer light that easily wraps around your subject.<\/p>\n

Soft light is flattering. But it soon became obvious that I was missing out on that dramatic element that attracted me to other images, and what I saw in movies. While soft light is flattering, it tends not to give dramatic results. (Of course, this depends on how you position your light.)<\/p>\n

Working with video light in photography<\/a>, I quickly got to love the light fall-off and the way that you only light a specific part of your subject, instead of just flooding your subject with light.<\/p>\n

Working with just a speedlight in bright sunlight, we mostly have to get used to working with a harder \/ smaller light source … and make it look good! As an example, here is the photo of Molly K, our model during a\u00a0personal photography workshop in New York,<\/a>\u00a0where we worked with\u00a0direct off-camera flash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the studio as well, selectively lighting part of your subject, or just using a smaller harder light source as a single light, gives you more opportunity for different looks than just using one large light source. In photographing Anelisa recently for the\u00a0promotional video clip for my studio<\/a>, I used smaller light sources for several of the setups. This image above then, is from one of those setups. Here I used the Profoto 50 degree Magnum Reflector<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>)\u00a0to concentrate the light, but still give a wide enough beam.<\/p>\n

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There are multiple edges to the shadows. The monolight itself will give the harder shadow, while the reflector’s sides will create the secondary softer shadows. I like it.<\/p>\n

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Here is the pull-back shot to show where the light was placed, and to see the spread of light.<\/p>\n

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Just for comparison, the available light shot which is a screengrab from the video. But by completely pulling the ambient exposure down with the settings chosen for the studio flash, the ambient light doesn’t register at all … and all that is left is the dramatic lighting.<\/p>\n

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Camera settings & photo gear (or equivalents) used during this shoot<\/h2>\n