The Lighting Angle

Exercise: The lighting angle (11 photographs)

Following on from the previous exercise looking into the differences with diffused and naked light, this exercise requires a subject to lit from different angles using a diffused light. 

For all the following photographs the camera was fitted to a tripod and at the same height as the subject, and remained in this position throughout. The studio light was fitted with a lightbox, diffusing the light. This was then moved around the subject and the photographs taken. 

The subject I chose for this exercise was a stone garden sculpture. The curves and surface would be ideal in demonstrating the differences in the lighting angle.

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200 

The first photograph was taken with the studio light set to 2/8 power and directly alongside the camera to its left. 

Areas of shadow are present highlighting the  curves of the sculpture. 

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

With the light 90 degrees to the cameras right more of the sculpture is in shadow.

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

With the light now behind and to the cameras left, even less of the curves are highlighted. 

1/250 sec @ f29 ISO 200

The light now positioned directly behind the subject creates a silhouette with no detail present visible on the sculpture. The flash was turned down to 1/8 power for this photograph and the settings on the camera were altered to take into account the camera looking directly into the light. 

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

The light was then raised up so it was looking down at 45 degrees. 

With the light to right of the camera and looking down. The curves and shape of the sculpture are shown with great effect. 

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

Light moved to the left of the camera and looking down at 45 degrees.

The curves are not as well shown compared with the previous photograph. 

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

Light directly overhead. 

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

Light overhead to the rear.

1/160 sec @ f11 ISO 200

The final photograph, the light now overhead and to the front. 

Detail in the facial area has been lost, however the curves of the sculpture are shown in detail. 

In this series of photographs it can be clearly seen that the lighting angle can have a major effect on the resulting photograph. What angle would work for one subject, would be unsuitable for another. 

My favourite photograph of this series, is the final one. The overhead light angled towards the sculpture from the front highlights the curves to the best effect. The background is dark enough to make the sculpture stand out. A reflector may well have bounced sufficient light into the facial area to show the detail, but more of this technique in the next exercise!