Hard Lighting / Low Key Lighting

This shows extreme or harsh changes between light and dark. This can be achieved in a studio with a strong studio light or outside in direct sunlight. It creates what is called a chiaroscuro effect.

High Key LightingAre light and bright photographs often associated with images which are happy or upbeat. These contrast greatly with Hard Lighting images.

» Rim LightingOnly the edge of the subject is lit. This would mainly be done in studio condition where the photographer has more control over the lighting set up.

SilhouettesUsing a natural background light source will allow the photographer to capture highly contrasting silhouettes.

These are best achieved at sunset or sunrise.

These can produce dramatic images which put emphasis on body language as identities are hidden.

Always make sure your flash is off!!

Back Lighting

Silhouettes can be seen as an extreme form of backlighting as the subjects are in total darkness.

Back lighting can also be used in a less extreme way as is shown in the portraits opposite where the models can still be clearly seen.

Rather than using the light source directly behind the model these use the sun in a more indirect way and offset with the model.

Back Lighting

Backlighting of any kind can also be known as Contre -jour which is French for ‘against daylight’ This refers to any photograph where the camera is pointed directly at the lighting source.

Fill in Flash

This technique is used on sunny days and in any situation when the background is lighter than the subject in the foreground.

The flash can be used to fill the shadows.

Natural Lighting Conditions

The Cambridge in Colour is a fantastic resource for photographers and is a good revision resource for many of the areas we have covered so far.

Its section on natural lighting conditions covers all you need to know.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/natural-light-photography.htm