For portraits there are six main lighting techniques:
- Split Lighting-This type of lighting splits a face in half, one side in light one side in shadow
- Loop Lighting-Creates a small shadow of a subjects noses on their cheeks
- Rembrandt Lighting-Named after the famous painter himself, this is a triangle of light on a subjects cheek
- Butterfly Lighting-the butterfly type shadow created under the nose by placing the main source of light above and directly behind the camera
The next two are more styles rather than techniques
- Broad Lighting-Happens when the the subject is turned slightly away from the camera thus making the lighted side of the face appear larger and the focus of the picture
- Short lighting-The subject is turned towards the camera thus making the shadowed part of the face appear larger
Along with those techniques, there is "catch" lighting. This happens when a small bright light is caught in the eye of the subject. It makes the subject's eyes appear more lively.
More on this can be found at: http://digital-photography-school.com/6-portrait-lighting-patterns-every-photographer-should-know
Backlighting is also a great technique to create great surreal and sometimes creepy photos:
Backlighting is also a great technique to create great surreal and sometimes creepy photos:
- backlight can add drama to an image
- backlit images can show the delicacy of a subject (think transparent or translucent things like flowers or insects)
- backlight can help create real mood in a shot
- backlit images can highlight details on the edges of subjects
- backlight can reveal textures that might previously have been hidden
- backlit images can show off the shape and form of a subject
- backlight can create shadows that add points of interest to an image
More on this can be found at:http://digital-photography-school.com/rediscovering-backlit-subjectsSome great lit portraits with backlighting or other interesting techniques:
