ARTIFICAL LIGHT- The Lighting Angle

Exercise.

Objective- To show the shadow/lighting effects of placing

a diffused  light around a static 3d object.


SIDE LIGHTING

light from the side will create a shadow on the opposite
side to the light. An un diffused light will create a harsh
shadow, but as the example below a defused light will
soften those shadows. You can see from the image below
that there are some shadows around the eye sockets and
nose areas

Moving the light up to a 45 degree has changed the angle of the
shadows, the shadows are longer and are pointing down rather
than across the left side of the object.

The above images show the relationship between the light
and the shadow patterns.

FRONTAL LIGHTING

Full frontal ( diffused lighting) should have the least

 shadows as light is falling directly onto the subject.

 Moving the light to 45 degree will meant that light

 will fall down on to the subject which may create

 some shadow on someparts of the object. It is

 important to look at back lightingas the subject may

be bright but the back drop may be under exposed

OVERHEAD LIGHTING

Overhead lighting is harsh as the shadows fall directly down

from the object. This is a very unflattering light to use in

portrait photography

Moving the light slightly behind whilst over head has created a

deep shadow on the left side of the object. It is also created a

slight rim light around the right side of the object.

BEHIND LIGHTING

Lighting an object from behind creates a silhoutte or rim light.

This can be used  to emphasis the shape of the object

or can be used as a creative approach to your image taking.

Using light from the back means that you are loosing the

detail from the front of the image. The last image shows

that by lighting the back of the object with a low level

tungsten light rather than using a powerful flash.

Comments

Using light to emphasis shape, form can be achieved by

moving the light around the subject. The angle of the light can

determine the level/angle of shadow on the opposite side

to the light. It is important to reconsige if that shadow is loosing

any detail on the subject...this can be achieved by reflecting the

light onto the subject (see next sextion)