Example of studio light and umbrella
Anyone who has tried to learn studio lighting has quickly been assaulted by equations, rules, styles and tools that are considered "required." However, studio lighting is not a scientific process. This means that there is no right or wrong way to set up studio lighting. Although, there may not be a "correct" way to set up studio lighting, it is important to understand the different aspects of studio lighting.
Lights
The most common types of lights used in photographic studio lighting are tungsten, fluorescent, HMI and strobe. All of these lights, excluding the strobe which is used in flash lighting, are typically used in continuous lighting. The difference between these lights is the same as the photographs they produce. Each light affects color, light intensity and heat in a different way, and these differences can change the resulting photograph.
Types of Light
There are three types of light utilized in all photography: continuous, flash and natural (daylight). Of these lights, the two most used in studio lighting are continuous and flash lighting. Continuous lighting is the easiest to use, because the light is consistent from visual to image. Flash lighting is almost exactly what the name implies. A quick burst of light, either from a camera-mounted or studio light, illuminates a subject for a brief period.
Soft Boxes and Umbrellas
Umbrellas and soft boxes are common tools used in studio lighting. Both affect the light source they are attached to, changing the way light affects a subject. Umbrellas reflect light back onto a subject, but at the same time diffuse some of the light to create softer lighting effects. Soft boxes provide a strong diffusion of the light projected onto the subject. Both umbrellas and soft boxes are key to removing unwanted shadows and creating unique lighting effects.
Shadows
In general, studio lighting is not about lighting the subject, but in essence about casting controlled shadows onto a subject. This makes shadows one of the most important aspects of studio lighting. The placement of shadows changes the mood and feeling of the photograph by creating definition and detail (or the lack thereof). A photograph with strong shadows can create a somber, serious or seductive photograph, while light shadows can create a happy-feeling photograph.
Lighting and Element Positions
The final element of studio lighting is making each piece of equipment work together to achieve the desired result. This is achieved by the placement of the lights and other elements. By utilizing different types of lights and light sources, it is possible to achieve any desired feel. The placement of these lights and type of diffusion used on them make it possible to control the amount of light reaching the subject, invariably controlling the shadows.
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