Have You Considered the “Arc of Beauty” in your lighting?
(Image by Tracy Sutherland)
We are going to take a high-level view of lighting today and discuss what I call the “Arc of Beauty“. And while no lighting scheme is going to be directly discussed, what we are to think about is a general tone of the light and what it does.
The “Arc of Beauty“
The Arc is backlight from side to full back. This lighting is one that I think of every time I get ready to do a still life, food, tabletop, or product shoot. It is a go-to lighting at the highest level.
What that means is I haven’t thought about whether it will be a softbox, or an umbrella, or a grid spot… I just want to get the benefits of back / side-back lighting established first.
And I do this usually with a boom or grid-held light instrument that allows me clean vision below it while keeping the light itself above and or behind the subject. While it can be done with a stand, the boom allows me to get the stand out of the picture from behind and not have to limit my angle in order to not see it.
Full on side light is also part of the arc of beauty. And remember, top down lighting is also side lighting since it is oblique to the camera.
Full Side Light is also within the Arc of Beauty and can provide some stunning textural and dimensional presentation.
The arc also extends vertically from lower than the subject to directly over top (also a ‘side light’ in angle from the camera.
From a full on back light oblique to the camera to top down light from above, the arc is also a vertical tool that can help with dimension, texture, color definition and more.
Why do I start here?
Because the tendency of front lighting is to make things flat. Dimension falls away, shadows fall away, and the overall texture is diminished as well.
Here are two shots to show you how it works from a small, intimate image to a large scene.
The pear and grape still life was shot on an 8 x 10 Deardorff and 14″ lens with Ektachrome 64 Transparency film. Light is from camera right and is a 24×36″ softbox shot through a 48×48″ scrim. The light is above the set.
Shot on Canon 6D / 24-105 MM at 30 MM. The back light gives texture to the sand, the wall and the sidewalk. It also creates a much more interesting set of shadows and shapes. Dimension and texture.
Bob Knill used a grid spot from the back.
Billy Walker chose side light to lift the details off of this head of lettuce.
Lisa Narduzzi chose a large soft light to bring out the texture and shape of her farm fresh beets.
Maciel Blaszczuk used a window light directly behind the bowl of onions for this iPhone shot.
James Kern uses light from the back right side to sculpt the texture and dimension of the assorted objects.
Soh Fong chose a diffused side light for her bananas in a corner of a small box.
Are there exceptions?
Absolutely. Shiny objects, liquid, situations where you WANT a flatter, less textural light. Of course there are exceptions and there are also some very talented photographers out there who choose front lighting as a stylistic difference for their work. They make killer images because they have worked with the technique long enough to know where and how to absolutely use it.
However that might be, we are talking about the bulk of our shooting approaches here.
To see it for your own self, set up something as a still life and move your softbox all around it as you make the photographs. You may have to add a little fill to the front (large white card perhaps) but shoot one with side light, back light, side/back light, low back light, high overhead backlight.
And shoot some with the light up front.
I believe you will see the difference and may help you think about your light in a bit of a different way.
Summer is here, and this is the time for more shooting, more portfolio building, and more list building for potential clients. This PROVEN system will help you on your way. These modules are free and there is a premium version on sale for a super deep discount you will read more about on the site. Build a great portfolio while you are building a client list that makes sense. Find Photo Clients NOW
This is the Portfolio Build Class for mid-level photographers. This is not a class for beginners, or for the more experienced photographers. This is a class for photographers working on their portfolio to make it more appealing to art directors, editors, and designers. More information and enrollment.
Your portfolio will be evaluated before acceptance. If you are not accepted, you will be instantly refunded the enrollment fee.
Have you wanted to take a look at the Project 52 workshop without committing for a year?
Well here is your chance. An 8 Week Project 52 Pro Membership is ready for you to get into – NOW. And it is the full deal. All of the resources, assignments, reviews, webinars and more are there for you to work with. This is NOT a truncated offer, but a full opportunity for you to take advantage of the most unique photographic workshop on the internet.
Time to Put the 8 Week Portrait Class Away for A While
Winding up one of the Portrait Classes: I have loved teaching these mini classes and studying some of the great modern portrait photographers. I believe much can be learned when one immerses themselves into the work and looks deeply into the work and styles of those...
More Portraits from the Portrait Class
(Image © Adi Talwar) Tuesday nights image review was a blast. So many good portraits that I have to share them with you all today. These portraits were influenced by the photographer Albert Watson who we studied for the week previous. [gallery link="file" columns="4"...
Moving From the Studio to The Great Outdoors: Meet Ken Howie
Ken Howie is a friend of mine and an excellent photographer. Ken used to have a studio in the same space as my old studio (and now, Dave and I are in his old studio). Ken was a consummate studio shooter. He was nearly 90%+ studio work - from product and still life to...
Portraits: June 2015
Student Work: A few of the amazing portraits students in the Portrait Workshops have turned in. There are dozens of truly great portraits. I am choosing only 16 for this post. [gallery columns="4" link="file"...
Perhaps It’s Time to Rethink “Photographer”
I got a beautiful pen as a gift from a client recently. Thanks for that, Randi, it is an absolutely gorgeous writing implement. And, I assure you, I will write with it. Because I am a writer as well as a photographer. Millions of pens are sold daily in the world. How...
It’s Father’s Day: Make a Photograph to Keep
The Best Photographs I Never Took It was Christmas a few years ago. My father in law came for the annual Christmas Dinner at the Giannatti’s. We host about 20 people here throughout the day, and Floyd always came over with his warm and infectious smile. The dude knew...
Sometimes the Nonsense We Tell Ourselves Can Make Us Crazy
Sometimes the Nonsense We Tell Ourselves Can Make Us Crazy. Today, I have a challenge for you all. Not one that I make lightly. And one that comes from a deep and abiding point of wanting you to be successful. Really successful. It has to do with barriers. Barriers to...
On Work Ethic – Nick Giron, Photographer
"Drive through your town and look at the businesses YOU DON'T go into and figure out why they work without you. Look at your business and ask why someone would want to come into yours. If you're the only one that knows the answer to that it could be part of the...
James Eisele, West Palm Beach FL Commercial Photographer
I met James Eisele down in West Palm Beach, FL when I did a workshop in that area. He showed a lot of talent and when I started the Project 52 course, he jumped in and became involved. I have watched his work improve at a very high rate, and his studio in West Palm is...
Tne New Sony Alpha a7RII Mirrorless Digital Camera
Is ready for purchase for those of you who may want a killer mirrorless camera.
Please Don’t Buy Stolen Gear
LensProToGo, a popular camera gear rental house and studio in Massachusetts was hit by the lowest of scum and had over a half million dollars of gear stolen. This gear will undoubtedly be offered for sale in shady cesspools of slime (their homes) and on line at...
Why I Have Decided to do Project 52 One More Time
https://vimeo.com/130593335 This will be year 5 of Project 52. It has matured and seen many alumni start businesses going from weekend warrior to full time shooter. P52 has helped many more photographers find their creative voice and look at the world in a different...
Off Topic Sunday: Gadgets, Gizmos, and Music
Every once in a while I get so many little things going on that I decide to share them with you all. I call them Off-Topic Sundays and they are always fun for me. So here we go: First... ever have your phone die on location? Not good, and since so many of us USE our...
Tucker Joenz, St, Augustine FL Commercial Photographer
Tucker Joenz was with Project 52 for a couple of years and in that time I watched him go from hobbyist to serious photographer. He works hard and creates wonderful pictures for his clients. Tucker also shoots self assigned personal projects that have garnered some...
Stephen Collins: Fredricksburg VA Commercial Photographer
I first met Steve when I did a workshop in Baltimore. It was a hot, muggy day but Steve never tired. He shot and asked questions and seemed to be very interested in getting better... which was a good thing. I kid Steve about how far he has come, but it is true. His...
Eric Muetterties: East Bay Commercial Photographer
Meet Eric Muetterties, a working photographer in the East Bay area of San Francisco. I met Eric 4 years ago at a workshop in North Carolina, and we shared a plane coming home. His attention to detail and love for the medium made me think he could actually do this...
Finding and Keeping Commercial Photography Clients: Part Four, Staying Connected
(NOTE) If you are just coming into this series, I highly suggest you start at Part One, and then do Part Two and Part Three before starting Part Four. Links for all of them are inside the protected area, and you can access them easily. A brilliant portfolio won't get...
Irene Liebler and Sandy Connolly: Starting the Journey
Irene Liebler was one of the Project 52 members from a few years ago. She did the course twice, I believe and rarely missed an assignment. She also rarely did an image that we were not blown away by. Irene is a consummate artist, and a painstaking perfectionist when...
Finding Commercial Photography Clients: Part Three; Getting Personal
(NOTE) If you are just coming into this series, I highly suggest you start at Part One, and then do Part Two before starting Part Three. Links for all of them are inside the protected area, and you can access them easily. So far we have been working on our portfolios,...
Finding Commercial Photography Clients: Part Two
"How do I find clients?" One of the most asked questions I get when chatting with photographers is where can they find clients. It is one of the questions I ask when reviewing a portfolio; "OK, these are nice shots. Who do you know who will pay you for this kind of...
Finding Commercial Photography Clients: Pt. One – Portfolio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7rj_D9t-kw Image Uses PDF Image Audit Tool PDF Ad Image Assessment PDF Finding and Keeping Clients Part One PDF Build a Solid Client List Finding and Keeping Commercial Photography Clients NOTE: This is a course for emerging...
Inspired by Skrebneski
The first set of images from the 8 Week Portrait Class came in last evening and they are really good. The class takes a close look at 8 major portrait photographers by analyzing what they do, how they accomplished their imagery and what the thought process was behind...
“Light Conversation” Volume Three
https://youtu.be/tv2EBtW5YLY Our next Light Conversations will be Monday, May 25. Join us.
“The Sprinklers” (A Mother’s Day Essay)
(My daughter, Alissa, wrote this Friday for one of her final assignments. It fits in nicely for mother's day.) Sprinklers My mom used to tell my sisters and me that if we ran through the sprinklers we would feel like different people. We could do anything, be...