Magazine 3 - LIGHTING TYPES

Lighting is the most important part of making a great photograph. Use the magazines in class to examine carefully how the light effects each photograph.

Find an example of each of the following types of light for your notebook - label them:

a) front light - has shadow that goes away from camera - flat light has little dimension

b) side light - most mood setting light has one side bright and one side dark or darker

c) back light - aiming into the camera lens this type light can cause a lowering of contrast called flare...if hidden from direct reflection into the lens it makes a silhouete or halo around a subject for dramatic effect

d) flash  - light from a flash has a well lighted subject while rapidly weakening light leads to a dark background

e) colored light - a light that has color so strong it alters the scene such as a strong sunset

f) soft light - this is light with NO shadow as one gets on a overcast day.  Light comes from such a large area that it is hard to tell where it came from.

g) hard light - a harsh light (a to e above are sub divisions of this type of light) with strong shadows and light that comes from a defined direction

LABEL each of these as you display them in your notebook.