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

Published 01/04/2010

Using two identical light sources in combination creates the 'form light', each positioned 35-45 degrees off each other and 35-45 degrees off the subject and variably 45 degrees off camera. The two light sources (1 and 2), may be placed close together or further apart, so long as they create the desired lighting pattern. These two lights provide the main light which creates the primary lighting pattern.

Adding two additional units completes the lighting set. One of these (3), is on a boom behind and almost above the subject for lighting the hair and, when desired, the shoulders. I prefer this light to be a strip bank so that it can be rotated either vertically or horizontally to the plane of the camera.

The fourth light (4) is positioned almost opposite, or 90 degrees off the light that is nearest to the camera, so it is at 45 degrees off the subject and behind the subject. There is a slight similarity to that demonstrated by Maz Mashru, but the second element of the form light is much closer to that nearest to the camera.

Personally, I prefer to use what are described as strip banks (described as Stripbanks by FJ Westcott, my preferred provider). These light boxes are slim and long and so they provide better control than large boxes or umbrellas.

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

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