Location Lighting Tips
Situations, Tools & Techniques
How to Turn a Lighting Problem into a Positive
Overcome the challenges of outdoor light; build a scene using available tools; and make a shot with beauty, power and impact.
Situations, Tools and Techniques
SituationsTypes of sunlight | ||
---|---|---|
Bright | Hard | Sharp, sun, directional, transmitted, high contrast, good for shape and form |
Overcast | Soft | Diffuse, cloud, general, reflected, low contrast, good for delicate texture |
Special | Sunset | Golden hour, sunset, dusk |
ToolsFilter, modify and add light | ||
Filter | Polarizers | Standard polarizer, blue/yellow polarizer |
Color | Warming, sunset, magenta | |
Exposure | Neutral density (ND), graduated (grad) | |
Modify | Reflector | Remove shadows with white card or fabric Position: Opposite the sun |
Scrim | Soften/diffuse with white sheet Position: In front of the sun | |
Flag | Block light with black card or lens shade Position: By the lens<, bounce/diffuse, rear-curtain, off-camera | |
Strobe | Main, background, fill, rim, catch | |
Types | Diffuse: softbox, octobank Reflect: umbrella, beauty dish | |
TechniquesMove, build and balance | ||
Move | Sun behind | Main light |
Into sun | Rim, add fill-flash | |
Shade | Soft | |
Build | Scrim | Hold back light over face |
Reflector | Remove shadows under chin | |
Flash | Fill-flash adds light and attention to subject, plus catch light in eyes (glint, sparkle, specular highlight) | |
Balance | Test | Shoot and review |
Levels | Move reflectors, compensate flash, use ND filter | |
Exposure | If can’t make it work in camera, bracket exposures and combine multiple shots in Photoshop for HDR photo |
Bright vs. Overcast
Comparing Sunlight | ||
---|---|---|
Bright | Overcast | |
Source: | Sun | Cloud |
Type: | Hard | Soft |
Directional | General | |
Transmitted | Reflected | |
Contrast: | High | Low |
Good for: | Shape, form | Delicate texture |