If you are designing a picture shoot in a studio, it is important to control all aspects of the light. Light that is too bright or too intense can quickly ruin an excellent image. With lighting, you can control it from the sides, the back and the front of the lighting source. Taking the extra time to control every aspect of the light allows your image to reap the benefits of a well-designed photograph.
Instructions
1. Position the light source where you would like it to be. Place objects in front of the light to either reduce the intensity of the light or soften it. Wire mesh reduces the light. If you are using studio lighting, purchase wired mesh that takes down the light in measured increments. Frosted paper gels soften the light, which is good for self portraits and glass subject matter.
2. Use items to block the light from escaping around the sides of the light. With studio lighting, there are barn doors capable of doing this. Barn doors are black metal flaps that attach to the side of the lights. They can be moved and adjusted to focus the light on a specific area. This is important when you want to light a portion of your image. If you do not have barn doors, you can use any object that works well in heat and does not reflect light.
3. Cover up the rear of the light. If you have studio lighting, you do not need to worry about this. However, if you are using a lamp you may want to place foil in the back of the light. This blocks the light from escaping in the back and reflects it back toward the object you want lit.
Tags: studio lighting, barn doors, from escaping, light from escaping, your image