Direction and method of dimming backlight in fashion photography

Dark-tone backlight is a lighting form suitable for shooting in autumn and winter. Many times clothes are taken two seasons in advance, such as furs or coats and cotton-padded jackets taken in autumn and winter in midsummer. When the shooting season is not supported, we need to finish shooting indoors. In autumn and winter, many men's and women's clothes will be photographed by dark colors.

The basic characteristics of dark tone backlight The visual significance of dark tone pictures is deeper, more melancholy and heavier than that of high-profile photos, which can focus the viewer's attention on the characters and emotions in the pictures. In dark fashion films showing autumn and winter clothes, this kind of expression is easier to highlight the characters in the picture. Dark tones account for most of the picture, and the characters are in the bright area of the whole picture, so the visual effect is more prominent.

Generally, when shooting, side backlight or backlight is usually used as hairstyle light or side light. By brightening the outline and hair of the character, the character is separated from the background, and the spatial hierarchy effect is stronger. Especially when shooting with a single lamp, the effect of side backlight or front backlight is more obvious. Properly used, it can prevent the characters from blending into the background and weaken the sense of space in the picture. When side backlight is used, most of them are hard light sources, such as honeycomb lamps, which can control the irradiation range of light well.

Use lighting and fill light

When taking dark and backlit photos, we often use side light or side backlight to create shadows, and add light or contour light to make the light cast a large shadow between the model and the camera. At the same time, darkening the background and creating a low-key picture atmosphere can not only form a strong darkening effect, but also show a moderate spatial level.

Photometric determination

Whether shooting indoors with a flash or working outdoors in natural light, considering the strong contrast between people and background or backlight, it is suggested to use the spot metering mode of the camera or use a professional exposure meter to measure the light of people's bright and dark parts respectively to determine more accurate exposure and light ratio.

The exposure meter gives a reference value, or it should be adjusted according to the shooting intention, so as to adjust the intensity of light, the distance between light and people, the distance between people and background, and the intensity and distance of supplementary light according to actual needs on the basis of the measured value.

The dimming backlight method uses studio lights to create a dimming atmosphere in the studio. Common types of light sources are as follows:

1. Strong light+silver reflector fill light

This kind of light is very suitable for all kinds of clothing products, but when the silver reflector is used to supplement the light, the reflected light is hard, which can well express the material of leather fabric and give people a hard feeling. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 3.

Note: Due to the use of silver reflector, the reflection index is strong, and the reflector should not be too close to the model, so as not to destroy the feeling of backlight.

2. Upper backlight+soft light fill lamp

Because there is no transparent space behind many scenes, it will be blunt to directly backlight a bunch of pictures. So at this time, we can use the lamp with standard hood to brighten the wall behind the figure, and use the reflected light to render the figure to form the top profile light, so the use of backlight is more reasonable. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 5.

Note: the front only needs to be evenly filled with light.

3. Side light+backlight

Leather clothing is very suitable for using side light or side backlight to express luster and texture. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 4.

Note: the light can be properly supplemented under the leather coat, but it cannot destroy the facial light effect of the characters.

4. Backlight+fill light

When the backlight is the main light, the front should be filled with reflector to increase the three-dimensional sense and texture of people and clothes. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 7.

Note: The effect is especially obvious when the hair color of the model is light. The front uses a white reflector to supplement the light and dark details of the eyes.

5. Side light+side backlight

This kind of lamp is suitable for all kinds of clothes, but because of its wide shooting range, it is recommended to use a soft box, which can expand the irradiation range of light and make the light more soft and hard. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 6.

Note: Because of the large contrast of the picture and the large shooting scene, the model's face and body are easily exposed to uneven light, so it is necessary to make the light uniform and control the light more carefully.

6. Plywood lamp+backlight

This kind of light is more suitable for men and tough clothing types, because the main light comes from the left and right sides and rear of the model, and the picture contrast is great. With this kind of light, if the model's eyes are not obvious, it is difficult to express the emotions of the characters. At this time, you need to use a big soft box on the front to supplement your eyes and highlight your mood. The light ratio is controlled at 1: 6.

Note: use the soft light box on the front to supplement the eye light, but it cannot destroy the overall darkening effect of the photo.