Continuing series of awesome quick tricks for photographers, Toma Kostygina teaches us what the dramatic lighting is and 3 ways to create dramatic lighting.
Watch full episode on our Youtube channel!
Does it require a special equipment? No. Do you need to shoot it at the specific time of the day? No. Dramatic lighting is simply the shadow play on the photo, where the contrast between highlights and shadows is drastic, very distinguished. In other words, the light fall off into a shadow happens very quickly.
How does one shoot it? To create drama on the photo you actually do not need any specific environment. You can easily create it in the broad day light with a couple of handy tools. Here are 3 easy techniques you can implement right away!
Use light modifiers that that have fast shadow fall off – shoots, 7-inch modifiers, beauty dishes with grids, etc. These modifiers are known to create hard light, which is the key for the drama.
The second technique is called “feathering”. It utilizes the use of soft boxes of various shapes and sizes. Usually, if the modifier is facing straight towards the model, the light it produces is soft, with gradual, slow fall off.
To create a quicker fall off/more distinguished contrast just turn the modifier to the side, so only the edge of it lights up the model. On a picture below, the left photograph of yours and only is the example of modifier – rectangular soft box -facing straight towards the model. And the right photograph is lit with the same modifier, turned to the right, so only the edge of the light hits the face of the model.
And the last technique covered Toma implements light reflectors/blockers such as V-flats, flags, screens, 5-in-1, etc. If you work with just one strobe light as your key, and the ambient light is your fill light, use blockers to block the ambient light from one side, while flashing the key light on the other.
That’s it!
JOIN Toma Kostygina’s “Studio Lighting 102” WORKSHOP that will let you have hands-on experience under keen supervision of Toma herself
It will take place on September 19th, 7-9pm, Downtown Los Angeles
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Tickets are only $35 (five tix left!) — SIGN UP HERE
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Watch the full episode with Toma Kostygina on the official FD Youtube channel: