{"id":29546,"date":"2015-07-10T20:30:39","date_gmt":"2015-07-11T00:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=29546"},"modified":"2017-08-24T12:36:50","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T16:36:50","slug":"portrait-lighting-setup-chiaroscuro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/portrait-lighting-setup-chiaroscuro\/","title":{"rendered":"Portrait lighting setup – Chiaroscuro"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Portrait lighting setup – Chiaroscuro<\/h1>\n

Chiaroscuro<\/strong> is defined as the use of strong contrasts between light and dark – bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. Chiaroscuro in an Italian phrase meaning Light and Dark. Chiaro = Light; Scuro = Dark.<\/p>\n

In Film Noir, there are many examples of the use of Chiaroscuro, enhancing the mood. Here though, we’re going to look at a straight-forward way of using Chiaroscuro as a lighting technique. This then becomes an easy starting point to experiment further.<\/p>\n

By adding planes that have a gradient between light and dark, you can enhance the idea of dimension and depth in your photographs.<\/p>\n

The photograph above will explain the essence of it – the planes of light and dark. This dramatic photo of Frankie, was lit by one light – a gridded strip-box. The grid helps contain the spill of light. The counterpoint to “containing the spill of light” is that the grid\u00a0directs the light.<\/p>\n

This single light source,\u00a0the gridded stripbox,\u00a0lights both our model and the background.<\/p>\n

Now\u00a0carefully notice how the gradient of light on our subject<\/strong>, moves from light to dark (as we look from left to right). The gradient of light on our\u00a0background<\/strong>\u00a0goes from light to dark in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

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If the background had been uniformly dark – i.e., without the light falling on the background\u00a0–\u00a0his left shoulder shoulder would’ve blended in with the dark\u00a0background. That wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. In fact, that would still fall within the definition of Chiaroscuro. And it would also fall within the realm of what we see in lighting with Film Noir.\u00a0However, the gradient of light in the background (going in the opposite direction as the gradient of light on him), helps etch him against the simple background. The visual representation of form and dimension is better this way. You see his shape. And the final image\u00a0is dramatic, without being overly dark.<\/p>\n

For me, this is a good starting point for dramatic portraits with a single light. I aim for the light to look good on my subject – and then the\u00a0light spilling on the background is controlled, to help define our subject. We saw the same effect in the portrait of my friend Brian,\u00a0using the beauty dish as a single light source<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Direction<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Direction & Quality of Light<\/h2>\n

I wanted to distill the essence of what we, as photographers, work with – light! Before we can truly grasp on-camera flash and off-camera flash, and really, any kind of photography, we have to be aware of the direction and quality of light. We need to observe the light that we have, and then decide how best to use it, or enhance it.<\/p>\n

With this book, I try my best to share those \u201caha!\u201d moments with you, and I do believe this book can make a difference to your photography.<\/p>\n

The book is available on\u00a0Amazon USA<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Amazon UK<\/a><\/strong>, or can be ordered through Barnes & Nobles and other bookstores. The book\u00a0is also available on the Apple iBook Store, as well as Amazon Kindle.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Photo\u00a0gear (& equivalents), and lighting gear used<\/h2>\n