SHAPE

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REVEALING SHAPE



one of the major qualities of an object is its shape.
Other factors of and object can effect the way you
photograph the shape, as some objects need to show
texture or colour in relationship with shape to indicate
to the viewer what the object is.


Lighting that is good for showing shape is CONTRAST
lighting as it defines the edge of the subject


The contrast between the object and the backdrop is
defined by light.The two obvious contrasts are light on dark
or dark on light.

silhouette are an extreme way to depict an object
Another way to depict shape is by using RIM lighting
This is a technique where the edge of the subject is
picked out against a dark background.

The simplest is to mimic sunlight by using
a single light from behind the subject.
The essential thing is to ensure that the background is
protected from the light spill from the light and is
completely dark.


My original plan was to set up some
rim lighting to show the shape
of the subject against the background
in silhouette form.

I had to adapt my plan as the object
I chose was transparent in this
lighting set up.

the following series of shots shows
the effects of lighting the subject
from behind with either 1 or twp
lights

The first three images show
the use of 1 studio flash
and 1 white reflector
from the front

 

f14 1//60 sec sync

I was difficult to achieve the original plan

as the subject is transparent. I therefore
modified the plan to show the shape
of the object against the white background
by lighting it from behind but using the
transparency of the object to reveal its
shape. I placed a studio light directly
behind a light tent to create a transparent
shell shape. I also placed the shell onto
a shiny white surface to bounce more
light onto the front of the shell. I finally
placed a reflector under the camera
a relfected light onto the face of the
shell.

I chose to submit the black tungsten
as I felt it defined the shape of the
subject more

ONE TUNGSTEN LIGHT BEHIND

SUBJECT
ONE TUNGSTEN LIGHT BACK LEFT
OF SUBJECT
NO DIFFUSERS

I SLIVER REFLECTOR

FRONT LEFT CLOSE
TO OBJECT

F25 20 SEC



Original planned set up
Key lamp set behind the object
with no light on to the front of the
object to create rim lighting or
silhouette


I was difficult to achieve the original plan
as the subject is transparent. I therefore
modified the plan to show the shape
of the object against the black background
by lighting it from behind but using the
transparency of the object to reveal its
shape. I experimented with exposure and
chose to reduced the exposure time as I
some area of the shell that was closest to
the light was over exposed.


second set up showing shape as a shadow

ONE STUDIO FLASH, BACK RIGHT.

NO DIFFUSER
45 DEGREES


ONE SILVER REFLECTOR FRONT
LEFT NEXT TO THE SUBJECT


F13 1/60 sec sync.

Original planned set up.

Second set up use light box with black
background, cutaway to reveal the shape of
the subject. Use tungsten set up and
adjust white balance accordingly.


I tried the original set up but again it
did not work as the object is transparent.

Whilst doing some of the exercises on
hard lighting set up I noticed that you
could create harsh shadows which were
a reflected shape of the object. I felt
this was a good way to depict the
" shape" of the object.

I set the object on a clear stand so that
I could create a shadow separate from the
object, I then placed the camera over the
object to capture the full shadow and not
show the stand under the object. I set the
camera to sync speed then experimented
with exposure settings. I actually used the
histogram on the camera to measure
exposure levels. I also then added in
a silver reflector close to the left side
of the object to add light to the shell
and to also reduce the shadows on
the shell.