FREE WORKSHOP ASSIGNMENT SEVEN: SMALL, HARD LIGHT (SHADOW PLAY)
IT'S TIME THE SHADOWS GOT TO BE INVOLVEDSmall, hard light.
It creates shadows, it defines edges, it can illuminate something translucent, and it can be the most important part of your image.
Building a toolbox of lighting for tabletop means we need to use different tools for different approaches. When the soft, wrapping light of a large source is needed, we bring it. If we need a bit more pop, or “modern” look to the subject, knowing how to use a small source is important.
Your assignment is to make ONE OF two photographs.
(Actually, you can make both, but only upload one for the critique and put them both in the feed.)
- Image number one is a still life shot with hard, incidental shadows. These shadows do not define the subject, but indeed they help give the overall image depth. The strong, pointsource lighting adds textures and shape to the subject.
- Image number two is one where the shadow defines something unseen by the light and POV of the camera. A fork laying on its side may only be a sliver of light from above, but the shadow reeling from it because of a hard source to the side of the fork IS the definition of the item.
A few photographers for inspiration:
LIGHTING TOOLS
Point source light means that the source of the light is small compared to the subject. For this we may not need special tools. A bare speedlight, or studio flash with only a reflector may be just perfect. However, there are times when we may need a modifier to aim the beam.
Grid Spots.
Grid spots make a soft edge to the beam, but allow a sharp-edged light in the center area.
DIY
DIY (2)
DIY (3) Studio
Snoots
Snoots limit the beam area with a sharp edge to the beam.
Snoot (although portrait)
Amazon
LIGHTING IDEA ONE
LIGHTING IDEA TWO – EVEN LIGHT
In order to keep the light flat on your subject, you will have to move your light farther from the subject rather than closer to.
This is a result of the ISL (inverse square law) and understanding how that works is essential. There is a full discussion on the ISL in my UDEMY courses which you received already. Simply, the closer the light is to the subject, the faster it falls off.
