Learn Lighting From the Eyes

When I picked up the camera a little over a decade ago, I decided that I'd cut out magazine photographs and make a journal of images that had closeups of the eyes. It was the only access that I had to see the reflection that showed me a little moment behind the scenes of the photoshoot. It's the "lighting hack" that I tell everyone about, because it is the first clue to what type of lighting modifiers were used to achieve an image. 

Go Behind the Scenes

If you're a beginner photographer in a city that's far from the major hubs, getting access to a photoshoot is a treat. Yes, we have many Instagram accounts that feature BTS photos, but a majority of them set up the shot for the BTS photo, not so much for the real imagery. When you see the the eyes of a model, it gives you the lighting used at the exact moment. 

I've looked to see how busy a set is. Was it a skeleton crew or a full set? I know that's not an actual indicator, but for someone who had just picked up a camera, it was exciting to grab a magnifying glass and count heads. It was exciting to see what angle the lights were at and then compare that to the overall final photograph.  

It was through this process that I learned things like: "Ok, that big, square light makes this type of imagery" and started to really understand lighting modifiers. 

The Eyes Taught Me Lighting

1. Set Size: It wasn't the most accurate thing, but it helped me to see the number of heads in the background. It helped me figure out what the "reality" was the exact moment the camera took the photograph. I had big dreams of holding my own photoshoots, and if this was my access to the sets of the most famous photographers, I would gladly take it.
    
2. Key Lighting: I understood that the reflection in the eyes gave me a good idea of the lighting used, and even though it wouldn't always show everything, I had more pieces to the puzzle than ever before. It helped me figure out which lighting modifiers were used the most. I figured out which modifiers were used in fashion, versus portraits, versus something else. Even though I wasn't able to judge each one with 100 percent certainty, I was able to use process of elimination to figure out the lighting methods.
    
3. Angles: I realized how powerful the angles of the light were in storytelling. I realized older populations had the softbox and younger had beauty dishes. I realized that when certain photographers opted for one angle, another used something else, and that helped create their signature looks. I knew that angles were vital in constructing a photograph.
    
4. Shadows: If I wanted powerful shadows, I looked to see where the lighting was placed. Was there a big flag in the reflection of the eye? What else could I see? I knew it was more than just figuring out the keylight; there were pieces of the greater puzzle to figure out.
    
5. Fill Light: I was able to see if photographer's used a smaller light for the fill or if they used a bounce. Was the bounce a reflector (round shape) or was it cardboard? 

Do the Eyes Tell Everything?

There's no way that you can find the exact lighting setup from the reflection of the eyes. Sometimes, you got lucky, because the magazine booked a model with bigger eyes and you could see more. Sometimes, you could only see a singular light, but in reality, the photographer used multiple in different areas. That was ok with me, because once I had a piece of the puzzle, I was able to solve the rest. It took time, but it sharpened my skills before I knew it! 

Nowadays, we have many Instagram accounts that specialize in behind-the-scenes photos. Some are accurate, and others are not, and the frame is filled with equipment that won't be used. The reflection in the eyes are the most accurate way besides being there yourself. Take a minute to examine the work of your favorite photographers and see what you can discover.