From the course: Photography Foundations: Flash

Roles: The key to understanding lighting

From the course: Photography Foundations: Flash

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Roles: The key to understanding lighting

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What's more, if you feel the need for artificial light That means that you have at least begun the process of having an aesthetic for light. Unfortunately, being able to recognize a beautifully lit scene doesn't mean you have any concept of how to create a beautifully lit scene. and maybe part of the subject's face obscured. A light might serve the role of key light. A key light, sometimes called the main light, is what casts the majority of the illumination onto your subject. Another light might function in a fill light role. A fill light fills in shadows in your scene. created by the key light. A light in the back light role does just what it sounds like. It back lights your subject, possibly creating a rim of light around them to separate them from the background. Thinking about lights serving specific roles accomplishes a few things. First, it breaks you out of the idea that a particular lighting technology is used in a particular way. It can be a key light, a fill light, or a back light. Similarly, depending on how I use it, Similarly, depending on how I use it, this white reflector can be any of those roles. this white reflector can be any of those roles. Understanding lighting roles can make the technology less intimidating can make the technology less intimidating because you don't have to worry because you don't have to worry if you're using a particular type of light correctly. if you're using a particular type of light correctly. Second, thinking about lighting in terms of roles Second, thinking about lighting in terms of roles will make you more creative will make you more creative in the way that you solve lighting problems. in the way that you solve lighting problems. Let's say you've recognized that the trouble with your scene is that it needs a fill light. Once you've identified that problem, you might notice that there's a big white wall just off camera. That's something that could be used as a fill light. Thinking this way is easier than looking at your lighting kit and thinking well what do I do with this light? What do I do with that light? Finally, thinking in terms of roles gives you a process. Finally, thinking in terms of roles gives you a process. If you walk into a scene and feel overwhelmed If you walk into a scene and feel overwhelmed and immediately think I don't know how to light this, and immediately think I don't know how to light this, then you can simply ask yourself what do I want for a key light? And once you've answered that you can ask do I need a fill light? do I need a fill light? And then you can move on from there. And then you can move on from there. Approaching lighting in this role-based way is the best methodology to use is the best methodology to use whether you're working with natural light, whether you're working with natural light, continuous lights, handheld flashes, or large studio strobes. or large studio strobes. In this course we'll be working with your camera's In this course we'll be working with your camera's pop-up flash if it has one, handheld strobe units, pop-up flash if it has one, handheld strobe units, and some simple modifiers. and some simple modifiers. But at every step, But at every step, thinking about roles should not be far from your mind. thinking about roles should not be far from your mind. To help with that we'll begin by digging deeper To help with that we'll begin by digging deeper into the specifics of each lighting role. into the specifics of each lighting role.

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