TAOP - Light - Exercise: Contrast and Shadow Fill

This exercise is about creating contrasty images using a variety of reflectors


No light and no reflectors
This first image is the starting position using no light or reflectors

Images sorted in decreasing levels of contrast

Light from right and no reflector

I think this image has strong contrast with light from the right contrasting against no light and no reflected light on the left


Light from right and white card reflector 6 feet away

There appears to be slightly more light on the left hand side reflected by the white card than with no reflector at all


Light from right and white card reflector 3 feet away

There is slightly more light coming from left but to be honest I notice the background colour changing more as light is bounced back to the subject


Light from right and non-shiny silver card reflector 

This for me has created a good level of contrast with light not too extreme between light and dark


Light from right and crumpled shiny silver card reflector 

I think this effect is good for reflecting back light but no necessarily back towards its source, it appears to spread the light



Light from right and shiny silver card reflector 

This image appears to have the least contrast with more light being reflected


Exercise Learnings

a) use of light in images can be used to subtly change the subject

b) images with strong contrast of light can be used to create a moody image, it would be good for me to experiment here with mono images where the range in tones will be more apparent with no colour distraction

c) I think this exercise has shown me how to experiment and play with light to create varying portraits e.g. from a traditional type of portrait to one that can create a portrait with character where elements of the subject can be brought out

d) there are many options I've now experimented in using  white and silver reflectors. Using additional colour such as a gold reflector could install warmth into an image. I do recall where at stage shows the lighting directors use a very large range of colours and colour diffusers for the stage performers

e) using reflected light needs much practise to understand the levels of reflection and strength of light that can be obtained.

f) use of cheap and easy to obtain materials shows that if doing a specific type of photography shoot that there are many types of material that can easily be obtained to assist with light correction or manipulation