30 Sep 09: Lighting #1: An introduction

We started the day in the studio with an introduction to basic studio lighting equipment by Andy:

• Different light sources react differently to different skin types/ages etc.
• The temperature of light is measured in kelvins - the higher the Kelvins the colder the light.
• Different bulbs emit light of a different temperature - tungsten bulbs give a warm light whilst fluorescent bulbs give a cold light.
• Flash light can be used to supplement the other light sources:

"...a flash is like a slap; a tungsten (or other continuous light source) is like a stroke" Andy Farrington.



The quality of artificial light can be manipulated using modifiers such as:

• A soft box (or fish fryer) which has a reflective interior with/without fabric sheet at front to diffuse the light. Without the sheet can give intense specular highlights.

• A beauty dish.

• Grids eg honeycomb grid - a thicker grid gives more tubular light that can work like a soft spotlight.

• A snoot.

• A reflector

Later John talked to us about the different light sources on location:

• Fluorescent (Green)
• Incandescent - household bulbs (Yellow)
• Sodium - street lights (Orange)
• Halogen/Tungsten - work lamps (Daylight balanced but can be blue)
• Golden light - natural light at the magic hour.

Attached is a photo I took in Parga, Greece at the magic hour. It's not the sharpest photo (I didn't have a tripod with me) but I love the light - it looks somehow otherworldly...

...not surprising really as the magic hour at dawn and dusk was known to the ancient Celts as the "time between times" .  At these times the veil between this world and other worlds is at its thinnest and those who know how can pass between worlds...

John went on to introduce us to some photographers who have been inspired by light including Ansel Adams - who is one of my key inspirations.  See his work at: http://www.anseladams.com/.   And Joel Meyerowitz who I hadn't heard of before but loved the work John showed us - see http://www.joelmeyerowtiz.com/.  Other photographers we looked at were:

• Simon Norfolk
• Minor White
• William Sexton
• Elliot Porter
• Ian MacDonlad
• Harry Callahan
• Walker Evans
• Brassai
• Wegee
• Joseph Karsh
• Horst - whose pictures, such as 'Peony in a broken vase' demonstrate that darkness can be as important as light - see http://www.horstphorst.com/

These guys are all masters at the things that make a successful photograph:

• Timing
• Perspective
• Shape
• Form
• Colour
• Light
• Exposure
• Subject
• Texture; and
• Composition

I would also like to add to the list Michael Wheatley, whose work I first came across when I was on holiday in Vancouver - www.michaelwheatley.ca/Galleries/p_northwest/index.html