Lighting the ' Still Life'

Still life photography is a form of professional photography that depicts inanimate objects or subject matters. Still life is a unique genre of photography . one thing that makes it so special is that often the subjects aren't very interesting

Lighting is a key factor in creating a successful image. Lighting determines not only brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood ,and atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to control and manipulate light correctly in order to get control and manipulate light correctly in order to get the best texture , vibrancy of colour, and luminosity on your subjects.

The types of lighting in photography are 3 point lighting used for the purpose of which used in traditional photography, cinematography, and 3d visualizations is to properly illuminate a subject in an effective and pleasing way by simply using there separate lights.

Still Life

Natural

Natural Light Photography is ambient light supplied by the sun or the moon -not a camera flash or other artificial light . Natural light changes every minute as the sun move across the sky.

• Choose subjects that speak to you

• Get Comfortable with Light and Lighting

• Get Good Tripod and Work Your Angles

• Get the Back drop Right

• Compose the Shot

• Take All Day Over It ,If You Need

• Get Inspired by the Masters

• Develop Your Eye for Still Life Scenes

The Basic lighting techniques are 12 Film Lighting Techniques

• Key Lighting

• Fill Lighting

• Back Lighting

• Side Lighting

• Practical Lighting

• Hard Lighting

• Soft Lighting

• Bounce Lighting

The most intense natural sources of light currently known in the cosmos are gamma-ray bursts , which occur when some massive stars collapse to form black holes or neutron stars, setting off powerful explosions as they do so.

Manmade

• Paper

• Bottles

• Light bulbs

• Pipes/wire

• Nails, nutts, bolts

• Machinery

Lighting the 'Still Life'

There are two types of still life photography : found still life and created still life . In strobe light photography , the lighting for photography is to have two light sources on each side the camera, 45-degrees between being a straight-on light source and a sidelight when you are taking portraits. This placement produces a soft shadow and depth while leaving out harsh dark shadows.

Lighting the Still Life

Hard Lighting ,my best images

from the right hand side create dark shadows and highlights

Hard light, flash from the front ensures everything is sharply in focus

Soft light my best images

Soft natural light from a window Create a clam atmosphere

Soft light using a reflector bounces the light back on the cup and avoid hard shadows.

I captured this images with team, also a location was at South &City College Birmingham for experiment lighting photos ,you need to hold a camera with tripod flash and different technical mode of camera , Richard hold the tripod connect the flash opposite him Nevid hold a white box and a model Beatrice marc camera woman me . I'm trying to capture the right one the lighting understanding a basic lighting

Daylight or flash ?Which is soft lighting and which is hard ?

Hard and soft lighting are different types of lighting that are commonly used in photography and filmmaking . Soft light is light is light that tends to 'wrap' around objects , projecting diffused shadows with soft edges, whereas hard light is more focused and produces harsher shadows.

Directional light

Backlight (lit from the back)

Lit from the side

Shadows play a key role in photography when you want to accentuate the three dimensional shape of a subject.

Soft or hard lighting ? soft light examples are : Northern window light .A cloudy day . A light with a shade. Using soft light allows a more flattering image than when using hard light. It will enable your shot to look natural .Warm and friendly. If you're looking to film a heart-warming scene, a soft light setup is crucial.

Natural daylight or flash?

A big benefit to using flash outdoors is you can fill in the shadows of the harsh day light sun. Many photographers will raise their shutter speed and shoot in high -speed sync mode so they can lower the ambient light light outdoors from the sun , and then turn on their flash to light the subject in frame .It recommended to used natural lighting rather that using flash because the biggest benefits of using natural lighting is that it is free, abundant, and very easy to find .There's no need to make huge investments in lighting equipment to find gorgeous natural light to pull off brilliant shots. All you need is a camera and some sun or moonlight, and you can begin shooing immediately. when you think about using a flash, you're probably thinking about only using it at night where you need more light. But believe it or not , the best time to use a flash is during the day .It essentially helps you get a better histogram reading by filling in details all across the board. the best setting for camera at indoor wedding we almost always use a flash , A typical setting for the portraits would be 1/60 seconds shutter speed, F5.6(or higher you need more lighting) ,and ISO 400. Most photographers shoot in mode Aperture Priority Mode I've love to see you use aperture priority for 95% of your shooting for the next several months . It is the mode that most hobbyist photographers and even many pro photographers shoots in most of the time . When you shoot aperture priority mode .You set the aperture (the F-stop) and also the ISO.

Where is the light coming from?(front, side, or back)

Front lighting is good for portrait photography where you want the person's face to b fully illuminated. If you're taking a portrait photo, remember that bright sunlight will cause your subject to squint . so if possible , move into an area partial shade where the ambient light can still reach your subject.

STUDIO LIGHTING

THE NAME AN IMPACT OF VARITY OF LIGHTING MODIFIERS

Lighting modifiers are devices that can improve the lighting in photos. Whether a scene has ambient or artificial light, you can use a light modifier to achieve a particular mood. With modifiers, you're able to highlight something important in a scene , soften harshness, or flatter a subject.​

Lighting Modifiers for Off-Camera Flashes &Studio Lighting​

• Collapsible Reflector ​

• Umbrella​

• Softbox​

• Standard Reflector /Beauty Dish​

• Ring Light ​

• Color Gel​

• Grid​

• Snoot.​

The best selections for light modifiers in the studio environment

How do I choose a light for my studio?​

1, the type of subject you want to photography.​

2,the size of room/studio you're working in​

3,the size of camera you're using, which affects the working aperture.​

4,the type of lighting modifier you're using.​

5,the distance between light and subject.​

6,the reflectivity of the walls/calling of your room/studio.​

How to use a light meter?

Hold your metre in front of your subject , pointing towards lighting that is illuminating them (not towards the camera). Now simply press the metering button to read the light measurement .With multiple lighting sources, you can measure them individually by pointing the meter towards each one . simply put, a light meter is a device that measures light . There are two different kinds if light meters incident and reflective. An incident light meter measures all the light falling onto a subject. Incident light meters help a camera focus on a subject regardless of how light or dark the surrounding background is.

studio lighting techniques key a few replicate to be able are a light technique motivated lighting is a controlled lighting technique meant to smite natural light sources in the scene like the sun or the moon . Bounce lighting is a technique where light is bounced from a strong source toward the actor with a reflector , which soften and spread the light.

Light Equipment & Accessories

1, studio Strobe Light

A studio strobe is a large light that is powered with AC power. You have to either plug into the wall, or carry a large battery pack (think small car battery)to power it. Studio strobes have lighting fast recycle times, so the photographer never has to sit for the flash to catch up.

Light equipment describes construction equipment not typically of as mobile equipment or heavy equipment , such as light towers, wood chippers, generators, and air compressors. These types of construction tools support operation on a job site .equipment can be used to control and use light in studios Reflectors and diffusers are two vital tools when shaping and controlling your light in the studio. a light studio you did position one flash head with a silver brolly at a 45 degree angle to the model at about six feet high .This creates a strong ,hard, direct light from the side and above . This called a key light .To even the lighting, position a reflector on the other side of the model to bounce the light back into the shadow side.

2, Transmitter and Receiver

Simply put, the main difference between a transmitter and a receiver is that a transmitter gathers and decodes information and the receiver displays the information in an audible and/or visual form that consumers can view or listen to. The most well-known and oldest of inventions to use this system is the radio.

3, Light meter

Is an easy-to-use, functional light intensity(lux)meter

Perfect for measuring, comparing, and adjusting lighting levels in your environment, whether at work or at home. Using multiple device sensors inputs, this small, convenient app collects light intensity data at the click of a button.

​What is a LED Light meter specifically calibrated to measure light emitted from LED lighting . The calibration is relative to the speed trap sensitivity wavelength of 550 to thesis standard C1609-1990 measuring corrected LED day white light spectrum.

Light Modifiers

Light modifiers are devices that can improve the lighting in photos. Whether a scene has a ambient or artificial light , you can use a light modifiers to achieve a particular mood. With modifiers ,you're able to highlight something impotent in a scene , soften harshness , or flatter a subject.

Soft box

A soft box controls the shape and direction of light more than an umbrella and prevents more lighting -spill from occurring . Softboxs, since they are generally rectangular , also have the advantage of being able to produce natural - looking light by mimicking the shape of a window.

Beauty Dish

A beauty dish is a photographic lighting device that uses a parabolic reflector to distribute light towards a focal point .The light created is between that of a direct flash and a soft box, giving the image a wrapped , contrasted look , which adds a more dramatic effect.

Silver Reflective Umbrella

The silver umbrella used for in photography , umbrellas soften and spread the light , allowing for off-camera lighting without harsh shadows. As common as photography umbrellas are, they are also often misused . silver -lined umbrellas will help intensify the quality of with little or no colour cast . A plain white umbrella with a black backing will offer the most neutral colour of light , but compared to the metallic lined umbrellas , tends to diffuse a bit more and reflect a bit less.

Translucent white Umbrella

A white umbrella(also known as a shoot -through)has translucent white fabric,. This fabric diffuses and spreads light over a large surface. This reduces intensity of the light .and you may need to turn up the power on your flash or strobe to offset this.

Spot Light

a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage. b : public notice or attention held the political spotlight. 2a : a light designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light on a small area. b : something that illuminates brilliantly. spotlight. spotlight, device used to produce intense illumination in a well-defined area in stage, film, television, ballet, and opera production. It resembles a small searchlight but usually has shutters, an iris diaphragm, and adjustable lenses to shape the projected light.

Snoot In photography, a snoot is a tube or similar object that fits over a studio light or portable flash and allows the photographer to control the direction and radius of the light beam. These may be conical, cylindrical, or rectangular in shape. Snoots can isolate a subject when using a flash

Ring light

The main function of the ring light is to lessen shadow and diffuse light evenly on the subject . Because of its ability to distribute light so evenly , it is great for close-up shots whether photography

Reflector

Since reflectors don't create light, their primary purpose is to fix shadows. If you are shooting a portrait outdoors during the day, a reflector can be used to fix odd shadows on the face, or even to prevent a backlit subject from becoming a silhouette

Camera Menu Set-up

1, Set camera to Manual Mode

The five settings that one has to master to shoot manually are:

1. Set Your Camera to Manual Mode.

2. Set Your White Balance.

3. Set Your Metering Mode.

4. Camera Exposure. Set Your Camera ISO. Set Your Aperture. Set Your Shutter Speed.

5. Putting it all Together

2, ISO

The ISO setting is one of three elements used to control exposure; the other two are f/stop and shutter speed. ISO originally referred to the sensitivity of film—it's "light gathering" ability. The higher the ISO rating, the greater the film's ability to capture images taken in low light

a, As discussed above, you should always try to stick to the lowest ISO (base ISO) of your camera, which is typically ISO 100 or 200, whenever you can. If there is plenty of light, you are free to use a low ISO and minimize the appearance of noise as much as possible.

Aperture

These are the main aperture “stops,” but most cameras and lenses today let you set some values in between, such as f/1.8 or f/3.5. Usually, the sharpest f-stop on a lens will occur somewhere in the middle of this range — f/4, f/5.6, or f/8.

F-stop is the team used to denote aperture measurement on your camera .The aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera lens and it's measured in f-stop.

F Stop Aperture Size Example Photography

f/2.8 Wide Astrophotography

f/4.0 Moderate Astrophotography, Portrait

f/5.6 Moderate Portrait

f/8.0 Moderate Portrait

a, F- Stop 5.6

Now coming to your question, F 4–5.6 on a lens means that the lens has a variable minimum aperture at different focal lengths. At the lowest focal length, it has a F4 aperture and the F number increases as you zoom in, giving you a minimum F number of 5.6 at the highest focal length. Put your camera in “program mode (P),” depress the shutter button until you see the activated meter. Turn the sub-dial right or left depending on which setting you wish to use. You will notice the f-stop number decrease as you turn left (wider aperture) and increase as you turn right (smaller aperture).

b. F-8to 11

Is f 8 a high aperture? F8 falls in the middle, making it a good starting aperture for beginner photographers. The f8 aperture provides the following photographic attributes: It provides a relatively wide depth of field, keeping most of your shot in focus. It gives a medium shutter speed, which keeps blurring at bay.

On the other hand, Higher f-stop settings (such as F11) have a smaller diaphragm opening, allowing less light through the lens. The longer the camera shutter is left open, the more light that is allowed to enter the camera; this is achieved by using slower shutter speeds (such as 1/60).

Sutter Speed

Set your shutter to open for about 1/10 of a second or slower and narrow your aperture down to about f/11 or smaller for longer exposure, keeping your ISO as low as possible. Depress your shutter release button and wait for your camera to complete the shot.

a, 1/125 of a seconds

/125 is 1/125sec, which means that the shutter inside your camera will be open for one-hundred-and-twenty-fifth of a second. This may be a physical shutter or an electronic one, but the principle is the same and your camera's sensor is exposed to light for this period of time.

b, 1/200 of a seconds

Fast shutter speeds (such as 1/2000th of a second) are especially useful in bright light or when trying to capture photos of things that are moving fast, such as athletes and wildlife. Slower shutter speeds are good in low light when you need to let more light in or any time you want the effect of blur and movement.

Wireless Radio Transmitter and Receiver

A wireless system consists of two main components: a transmitter, and a receiver. The responsibility of the wireless receiver is to pick up the radio signal broadcast by the transmitter and change it back into an audio signal. Wireless receivers are available in two different configurations .A transmitter is an electronic device used in telecommunications to produce radio waves in order to transmit or send data with the aid of an antenna. The transmitter is able to generate a radio frequency alternating current that is then applied to the antenna, which, in turn, radiates this as radio waves.

What's the difference between sender and transmitter here. Many times both terms are used for the same thing. The HFN values in the sender and the transmitter are different, i.e. the HFN synchronization between the sender and receiver is lost

USING A LIGHT METER

old your meter in front of your subject, pointing towards light that is illuminating them (not towards the camera).Now simply press the metering button to read the light measurement. With multiple lights sources, you can measure them individually by pointing the meter towards each one.

HOW DO USE A LIGHT METER IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Hold your meter in front of your subject, pointing towards light that is illuminating them (not towards the camera). Now simply press the metering button to read the light measurement. With multiple lights sources, you can measure them individually by pointing the meter towards each one.

Methods to Manipulate a Key Light:

1. Diffuse the light for softer lighting.

2. Bounce the light off a wall or bounce board to create a softer light spread.

3. Moving the light further from a subject will create harsh shadows.

4. Adjust the angle of the light to achieve different looks.

What is a light meter and How Does It Work? A 'light meter' is a handheld device that used measure or 'meter' light. A light meter can read the ambient light in a scene, or the direct light from a light source and calculate the correct shutter speed and aperture values required to capture an accurate exposure.

What is difference between key light and fill light?

In essence a key and fill are two light sources – one slightly stronger than the other. The key light is the main light used to illuminate our subject, while the fill light provides a lift to the shadows

What is key light used for?

What Is the Purpose Of a Key Light? Key lights highlight the form and dimension of on-screen subjects and allow cinematographers to control the atmosphere of a scene

Back ground techniques.

1,Choose the correct camera settings.

1. Choose the right time of day.

2. Position the light behind your subject.

3. Adjust your equipment.

4. Experiment with different angles and positions.

5. Fill flash and fill light.

6. Use a spot meter.

7. Adjust the white balance.