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06/13/2008 11:46:25 PM · #1 |
Just curious about opinions on lighting. I see a lot of comments when lighting on a subject is fairly even, that the effect seems "flat." Yet, I will then see comments on other shots to the effect that the lighting should be "more even."
Anyone care to tackle the subject of how to please both camps? |
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06/14/2008 12:16:19 AM · #2 |
| Don't really think you can, just part of the subjectivity of the art... |
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06/14/2008 12:29:46 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by antares1966:
Don't really think you can, just part of the subjectivity of the art... |
yeah I was gonna say that too. I read and read and read about light set ups. In the end, to me, its all about what *I* like as a photographer and what the client likes.
Like for me, I love high key stuff, and I love low key stuff too. I guess I spend too much time trying to emulate those techniques to get "regular" lighting right.
But you just have to do and do and keep trying to get it right for you!
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06/14/2008 06:43:15 AM · #4 |
I was reading a Top 10 list of tips for photography the other day. I loved tip #3:
“Light is EVERYTHING in photography” - Teineli
similarlyâ€Â¦
“Don’t take photographs of subjects, take photographs of the light” - Cedric
and very succinctly putâ€Â¦
“Your photo will be no better than the quality of the lightâ€Â¦ if the light is mediocre, do not expect anything more than a mediocre photo” - GL
ETA:
This doesn't mean I'm any good at it ... I'm still working on it myself!
Message edited by author 2008-06-14 06:43:40. |
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06/14/2008 09:47:27 AM · #5 |
Depends on the subject and the artist's thoughts. A kids, pets and babies are generally lit fairly flat - few shadows on their faces. School photos, ID pics, sports team/individual pics are also fairly flatly lit. Classical portraiture is going to have shadows - in the right places at the right ratios.
Then you mix in the photographer's intent and ideas - to break the rules perhaps, to do something different and interesting, or perhaps they have no idea what they're doing or a happy accident created an image the like.
Now you have the viewer's baggage to deal with. I've had clients that detest B&W and some that love it. Doens't make B&W good or bad in the large sense, but certainly does to the viewer.
My last freestudy entry got a few comments about it being, well, too posed - the viewers wanted more involvement of the subject in the environment. They overlooked a lot IMO, but that's their opinion. Then I see a very similar image in a magazine I got yesterday - so is it me or them?
Art is in the eye of the beholder. An true artist creates for themselves. I, however, am a prostitute and have to create something the client will pay me for. So if I show sample images and they say a lot of 'too flat' then I know they want something more dramatic, etc.
So learn the 'rules' and when to use or break them, and why. Then either make art for yourself and ignore the comments, or make it to sell and listen only the man with the money.
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06/14/2008 01:09:52 PM · #6 |
In the industry that I call a career, and wished like hell I could win the lottery and get out of, light is everything.
Light portrays everything.
light is the breath of the image.
You can use one light or many, many, many lights and still both techniques can tell the same story, the difference is the depth the photographer wishes to share.
If light is the breath of the image, then color is the emotion.
Light and color compliment each other when done correctly.
A flat light is just that, flat, uninteresting.
First impressions can be everything in a good image.
Flat lighting and flat colors usually do not create a good first impression.
That first impression is what you want to bring that viewer into your image so that the viewer will stay longer examining the image.
Off to buy a lottery ticket.
Message edited by author 2008-06-14 13:11:07.
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06/14/2008 01:16:35 PM · #7 |
I knew I'd get some interesting answers from the folks here :) I'm okay at composition, pretty good at the color aspect, I'm able to locate subjects that at least I like, but the lighting as an art is the thing I struggle with the most and am concentrating on currently.
To either use or create sweet light has been by far the biggest challenge to me, I think. Thanks for the thoughtful answers and I'm open to hear more from others too! |
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06/14/2008 08:24:10 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by jpochard:
... but the lighting as an art is the thing I struggle with the most and am concentrating on currently.
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There is no correct way to light something, but there are plenty of wrong ways.
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06/14/2008 08:25:11 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by jpochard:
... but the lighting as an art is the thing I struggle with the most and am concentrating on currently.
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There is no correct way to light something, but there are plenty of wrong ways. |
That's for sure, and I've done them all! ;) |
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06/15/2008 07:23:52 PM · #10 |
| I know what light I like when I see it, but it's taking me a while to learn how to actually utilize a pose or equipment to purposely capture or create that light on a consistant basis. |
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