How to create emotion in the photo with the help of lighting
A Photo / / December 20, 2019
Lighting - a powerful tool in the arsenal of the photographer. Learn to use it, and you can better convey a variety of emotions model.
JP Morgan
For more than 20 years he worked as a commercial photographer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. On YouTube-Channel The Slanted Lens talks about the pictures and video.
Each photographer is trying to make a model to show a variety of emotions: from joy to fear and terror. If the model can not cope, then come to the aid of light. It is interesting that such a trend can be seen not only in the field of Photo. The concept of light is used in speech transmission status and human qualities, such as: "to glow with happiness", "dark horse."
JP Morgan showed that light can create emotion models in four different ways.
1. The ratio of luminance or contrast
Contrast - this is the ratio of the light that falls on the illuminated side and the shadow side of the face. Adjusting the exposure can change the expression on his face.
- The ratio is 1: 1. Uniform illumination face.
- 2: 1 ratio. Increased exposure by one stage (light from one side face brighter twice).
- The ratio of 4: 1. Increasing the exposure in two steps (light from one side face four times brighter).
- The ratio of 8: 1. Increasing the exposure in three steps (light from one side face to eight times brighter).
Morgan asked the model to demonstrate three different emotions: happiness, sadness and anger. As you can see on the pictures they made, under the side lighting, providing a strong contrast, emotions are a little distorted. Brighter lighting softens facial features. Therefore, for transmission, for example, a depressed state of a person is better to use higher coefficients of luminance ratios.
2. The quality of light
Hard light forms a deep shade and a sharp boundary between light and shadow. Soft lighting ensures a smooth transition from light to shadow, which softens the expression of the model's face.
3. light color
Color has a direct impact on our mood. For example, for the home we choose a warm color, which give us a feeling of comfort. The same applies to photos. Light color affects the viewer's perception of it.
Dark blue light gives a dramatic shot.
4. light direction
We've learned that light always falls on us from above. If shift its direction, you get a different effect on the photo.
Light directed at the model below, give it a bit sinister look. This kind of effect is a horror movie or get-togethers with scary stories at night by the fire.
In this picture, the model shows the same emotion. But you can see how changing your perception of the image depending on the direction of light.
Playing with light will open for you a lot of new photographing opportunities.