We talk a lot about how to light the face for more flattering portraits or to achieve a desired effect, but rarely do we talk about how to light to project a specific emotion. And yet, light is one of the most powerful photographic tools at our disposal. Check out this great tutorial that details how to use different methods of lighting to convey emotion.
Coming to you from Jay P. Morgan of The Slanted Lens, this helpful video examines a topic I feel doesn't get enough airtime. Adjusting the contrast ratios between multiple lights, the quality of the light, the color, and the direction are all ways within which the variations offer a veritable multitude of emotion, all from the carefully chosen and adjusted minutiae. For example, we're conditioned as humans to expect light to come from somewhere overhead (after all, that glowing orb of plasma and gas in the sky is the O.G. light). So, when you move the light source beneath the subject, you're instantly creating a feeling of edginess, mystery, or of something unnatural. The possibilities and variations are nearly endless and incredibly nuanced, so be sure to give the video a full watch!
Great video. I really like the comparison of different light settings!