I am trying to learn a lot about photography as fast as I can. I am watching a lot of video, reading this forum and magazines. Whenever I see a photo that somebody submits for critique, there seems to be a lot of different opinions about the photo. Some say there are too many shadows on the subjects face, others like how the photographer left the shadows to show depth....I'm confused on what's the best way or is it all in the eye of the beholder? I may take a photo and purposely leave it dark for the effect. Is this wrong?
Confused about using fill light or leaving shadows
- Thread starter Smoke
- Start date
You are the one who has to decide this! There are as many opinions on what is correct as there are people with cameras.
I personally like the shadow. It makes for a dramatic look. I don't mind a portrait with little shadow but it is not the way I would shoot one unless that is what the client asks for.
I am assuming you have read several threads on portraits. Here are two of mine, that you have probably already seen, and you see which you like best, shadows or little shadow.
I personally like the shadow. It makes for a dramatic look. I don't mind a portrait with little shadow but it is not the way I would shoot one unless that is what the client asks for.
I am assuming you have read several threads on portraits. Here are two of mine, that you have probably already seen, and you see which you like best, shadows or little shadow.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
There is no single, correct answer to this question.
Light and shadow are your tools, it up to you how you use them to put your message across to the viewer.
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Light and shadow are your tools, it up to you how you use them to put your message across to the viewer.
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Scott Murray
Senior Member
Shadows all depends on what 'look' you are going for, different shadows can make the same image look totally different to the viewer as Mike points out. Its up to you as the artist to get the right amount of shadow for what you are after.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I like some shadow. What I don't like though is harsh shadows. Soft shadows give the depth without the heavy drama.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
Look at the choices...
One choice is flat frontal light, flash on the camera for example. This illuminates everything the lens sees very evenly. Even to a fault. Shadows are hidden BEHIND the subject. Which might be good for a few subjects (which are typically flat themselves), but the flat lighting does not show shape of the subject. We need shadows to show shape.
So, moving the flash off camera is the first step. This makes very discernable shadows which the camera angle can see now, and which better shows the shape of the subjects curves.
But, such shadows can be very dark then, objectionable in their own right.
So then we add a weaker fill flash near the camera that will evenly fill those shadows (that the lens sees), to make them much less dark. Then the shadows become just weaker tonal gradients, mild shading, perfect for showing shape without being too dark or contrasty.
Look at the first picture Mike D90 posted here. It is NOT flat lighting. Shadows are NOT dark. Yet the mild shadows (gradient tones) are very definitely present to show contour, curves and shapes. The contrast vs flat frontal light is very dramatic. Beginners can look at the shirt to get the idea fast. The shadows show the shape of the contours in the shirt. Some degree of this is essential. Too much becomes too much.
A snapshot of a human in the bright sun is a dramatic example. Dark shadows, terrible result. But simply pop up the internal flash to add fill in TTL BL mode makes tremendous difference (if subject distance is not too far for tiny flash). It can make trash be a good picture.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Submitted for your consideration... Behold the power of light and shadow:
SOMF (Some Of My Friends) :: Portrait Photography by Lee Jeffries
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SOMF (Some Of My Friends) :: Portrait Photography by Lee Jeffries
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Those are AWESOME!
Fish, wow I am speechless over these photos. Thanks for sharing. The composition, detail, wow....wow. I really like the processing on these photos as well.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
They're pretty amazing to me too... The captures are awesome, the processing is awesome and the emotional power almost overwhelms me. Makes me want to shoot nothing but B&W!
I love this statement: "I process with light and shadow in an almost religious way."
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