Fstoppers Lighting Diagrams- Customize Your Catch Light
A couple weeks ago I posted a lighting diagram showing how you can emulate Martin Schoeller’s lighting by using gaffers tape and foam core. One reader commented that the catch-light makes the subject’s eyes look like a cat. This got me thinking about what would happen if I were to change the pattern of the tape into various shapes. Here’s what I discovered.
In my previous setup, I used black tape to narrow the amount of bounce light coming from the white board. I decided that since I was now wanted to easily create shapes with the white bounce areas, it would be easier to use white tape on black foam board.
For my first experiment, I tried a starburst pattern. This allowed for an even light spread on the subject and a subtle catchlight.
Next, I tried seeing what a triangle pattern would do. While the light spread on the subject isn’t as good as it was with the radial starburst, I like the catch-light much more.
Finally, I tried making two half circles, with a horizontal gap in the middle. This had a cool effect, and is a bit more subtle effect than the triangle.
The fun thing about a set-up like this is that there are endless possibilities of shapes you can make with the tape. I want to see how legible it would be if I wrote out words. Have fun with this and post your results in the comments!
Lessons like this one as well as 25 other lighting diagrams are available in my new e-book, RGLR, The Run & Gun Lighting Resource for $10.
