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What, No Fill Light? - part 2 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

Published 01/04/2010

Image No. 3, shows how the lighting set truly creates a very sensual and slightly sexy impression. The rim lighting adds to the sense of depth to the degree that you can almost put hands around her (though, if I had, I would have been in trouble). She has an almost porcelain like skin tone and it is accurately rendered.

In studios the fill light is an integral element in the lighting set and, at seminars, advocates for different lighting techniques include the use of a light source for this purpose.

Most portrait photographers will always include such a light in their lighting set and most of those entering the profession are indoctrinated into using a fill light as most lecturers and teachers emphasise the need for such a tool. But there are times when such a light source is redundant or not relevant. Or explained another way, surplus to our needs.

Image No. 4, has her in exactly the same pose but with her head turned three quarters to her left and camera -right, just enough to allow a touch of light to fall on her right eyelid. This has produced a real hybrid in lighting ratios. If we follow the black attire from the bottom of the image up into her face, the 5:1 ratio works very nicely, and it has created a different mood from any of the other 10 examples. At the same time the wrap-around lighting still has greater depth than if a fill light had been used.

Recently I created one of my 'Signature Portraits' for one of my clients and used a lighting style that requires no fill light.

It embraces the concept of what is known as a 'form light'. And in my two presentations at the Societies' Convention in London in January I demonstrated this style when photographing two, very different female subjects.

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1st Published 01/04/2010
last update 09/12/2022 14:54:13

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What, No Fill Light? - part 2 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

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