Classic Lighting Techniques in Portrait Photography

Lead: According to the classical lighting method, different lights, even seemingly simple effects, often need the cooperation of multiple lights. Among them, the position and function of each lamp have strict requirements, and ambiguity is considered a taboo.

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The most important light in the picture is the main light. In portrait lighting, the main light should be considered first, and its position basically determines the overall effect of the picture? High-key or low-key, smooth or backlit. Light ratio The ratio of the light intensity of the main light and the auxiliary light is the light ratio, and the overall contrast of the picture is usually determined by the light ratio. The light that plays an auxiliary role on the auxiliary light screen is called auxiliary light or auxiliary light, and the detail level of each part of the portrait on the screen is controlled by the auxiliary light.

Yang auxiliary light and Yin auxiliary light

Auxiliary light is divided into positive auxiliary light and negative auxiliary light. The function of positive auxiliary light is to increase the transition level of the light-dark boundary between bright and dark parts; The function of auxiliary light is to add a level of detail to the dark part.

Many people, including quite a few photographers in the studio, can't tell the difference between positive auxiliary light and negative auxiliary light. Why not just use an auxiliary light? The reason is that when shooting a low-key portrait, if only one auxiliary light is used to solve the boundary between light and dark and the level of dark parts, then the whole dark part may turn into the whole gray, and the three-dimensional sense of modeling will be seriously damaged.

When shooting a low-key portrait, if you want to reduce the Yi Deng, you can only reduce the auxiliary light, not correct it. In actual shooting, negative auxiliary light can often be replaced by reflector.

Masters' works are often the best examples of people running out of light. Here we combine Yusuf? Cash is a movie star Humphrey? Portraits of Bogart showing various lighting functions. The main light used in shooting is the side light at a higher position, which brightens the forehead and the sides of the nose and forms a large shadow under the eye socket and nose. Like most of Cash's works, the main light in this photo is strong light without any softening.

The positive auxiliary light is located in the front light level on the left side of the figure, which appropriately dilutes the shadow left by the main light. The contrast of this photo is relatively large, and the light ratio of auxiliary light to main light should be 1 ∶ 4.

Yin auxiliary light is located in the front light position on the right side of the character, which adds some details to the darkest part of the face and hands of the character. The ratio of auxiliary light to main light is 1: 8 or 1: 16. Profile light is a side backlight from the right rear of the figure, which brightens the contours of hair and ears, and also adds outstanding bright colors to cheeks and forehead. The ratio of side light to main light is 1 ∶ 2.

Humphrey. The photo was taken by bogart yousuf karsh.

Finally, a point light source with an angle close to the auxiliary light, but higher and farther, brings prominent eye light to the character.

Tip: What are the classic lighting methods? Iron law?

Classical lighting is a very strict system, and many of its rules are likely to make photographers feel incredible now: how can you take pictures like this? Dogma?

Although most portrait photographers nowadays no longer abide by it or even know about it? Rules? The existence of them, but there is no harm in understanding them? Learning without skill will not bring any benefits at any time. 1.？ There is only one sun in the sky? Is it a word that old masters often talk about? It means that the main light in the light must stand out clearly. Double main lights? According to traditional standards, this practice is completely nonsense.

2. Only one eye can be bright! Traditional lighting is very strict with eye light. Even if the overall effect of the picture looks good, if there are two eye lights, it will still be ruthlessly judged as a failure. In the era without Photoshop, photographers can only avoid multiple eye lights by carefully controlling the position of the lights and carefully modifying the negatives.

3? What the hell are you ordering? Classical lighting method has strict restrictions on the lamp position of a single lamp? Front light, front side light, side light, side backlight, backlight, plus top light and bottom light, only these positions are? Is that correct? Yes Any fuzzy lamp position may bring redundant shadows or light spots, which cannot be compensated by later means in the era without digital post-support.

? Butterfly light? With what? Rembrandt method?

After years of accumulation and refinement, traditional lighting methods have created many classic ways of using light. Butterfly light? And then what? Rembrandt method? Are the two most representative cases.

Even people who have never been exposed to studio lights may have heard of it? Butterfly light? And then what? Rembrandt method? . People who don't know may mistakenly think that these are two special lighting technologies. In fact, both of them are nicknames for the combination of two kinds of lighting in traditional studio lighting. In the film era, the most basic goal of studio lighting is to use light to enhance the image of the subject and repair and weaken the defects in the image; After entering the digital age, lighting pays more attention to the role of picture atmosphere and character temperament, and many tasks of improving image are transferred to the later stage through electronic darkroom.

? Butterfly light? Usually refers to the light distribution effect from a higher front light level? Because it was left at the bottom of the nose? Butterfly shape? Named after the projection of. ? Butterfly light? It will leave a faint projection under the eye socket, the bottom of the nose and the lip line and on the cheeks, which can make people's faces full of three-dimensionality, and the projection can also improve people's face shape. ? Butterfly light? It is very suitable for expressing the image of women, so it is also called? Beauty lamp? .

? Rembrandt method? Named after the light effect is close to the classic male portrait of the Dutch oil painting master Rembrandt, it is the most classic lighting method for shooting male images in traditional lighting methods. ? Rembrandt method? The main light is located at the front light level, because a triangular bright area is left on the other side of the subject's face, which is also called triangular light; The positive auxiliary light is generally located at the positive light level; The standard light effects of Rembrandt cloth also include auxiliary light to brighten dark details and hairstyle light to brighten contours, which are often omitted in modern lighting.

The style of portrait shooting has always been closely related to the trend of the times and public tastes. Today, we look at a portrait photo from decades ago. Even if we don't know much about the relevant background, we can roughly judge the age of the photo. This is of course related to the clothing and makeup style of the year, and it is also directly related to the lighting style of the shooting.

After decades of emphasizing perfect classical lighting, the lighting for portrait shooting has become more and more simple, direct and different. Exaggerated and unusual style has even become the mainstream style of film and television and advertising shooting, which will inevitably have a direct impact on the universal popularity of society.

The above picture comes from a famous lighting case: portrait photographer Arnold? Newman was invited to shoot for Krupp, the German arms king. Arnold. Newman hated the bloodthirsty, greedy and cruel nature of the arms industry under the control of monopoly capital, and deliberately used bilateral light positions when shooting? Formed a strong? Splint lamp? Make the arms king look as scary and gloomy as his business. Arnold. Although Newman's practice violates the professional standards of photographers, it retains the conscience of an artist. After the photo came out, Krupp announced Arnold Newman as? People not welcome in Germany? ; Newman's conscience and courage are admired by the world. What are some special lighting effects in daily shooting? Such as strong background light and those used in these two shooting cases? Splint lamp? 、? Skull lamp? , there will be a strong ugly effect. Not only should you use it carefully when shooting, but you should also pay attention to avoid inadvertent mistakes that cause similar lighting effects. The use of light in fabric modeling and characterization has brought about changes as much as makeup modeling and clothing.

Two portraits of humphrey bogart, the top of which is Yusuf? The classic works shot by Cash are characterized by perseverance and wisdom. The following is close to the role that Bogart often plays in movies? Gangster. When shooting, the strong top light from the rear was used, and the front light with lower front light level was used as the auxiliary light, which collided with the main light. Hedge? The obvious shadow on the backlight side of the bridge of the nose further strengthens the abnormal visual effect.

Are all the portraits on it taken? A girl with a thousand faces? Known as the American movie star Marilyn Monroe. First, Zhang Mingliang's positive light highlights young and sexy; In the second picture, the traditional low-key lighting brings a more classical lady effect; The strong and simple sidelight in the picture below highlights the mysterious and melancholy tragic temperament? The influence of light on image temperament can be seen.