Light Basics and Vocabulary

Butterfly  -- 
1. What effect does it create?
a butterfly shaped shadow under nose
2. Why use it?

buttey lighting
3. How many lights or light sources?
oneLoop -- 
1. What effect does it create?
creating a small shadow of the subjects noses on their cheeks

2. Why use it?
even lighting
3. How many lights or light sources?
1-2

Rembrandt --
1. What effect does it create?

triangel under eye
2. Why use it?

 mystery
3. How many lights or light sources?
one

Split --

1. What effect does it create?

shado and lit side

2. Why use it?

mystery  

3. How many lights or light sources? 

one

Broad and Short --

1. What effect does it create?

one side look bigger then the other
2. Why use it?

mystery
3. How many lights or light sources?

one

Fill light-Fill is used to lighten shadows and control Contrast and Lighting Ratios.

Key light-The key may determine the character of the lighting, but often a strong Back Light for example, sets the Mood. The key should usually be Motivated by a source like the sun or a window.

Hair light-An Accent Light presumably limited to the top of the head. Sometimes only a Back Light with delusions of grandeur and fancy-colored gels.

Background light-Back Light separates subject from background, saints from sinners, and one pro from another. Angl

Shadowless-

Hard light-A relatively small, direct, usually focusable source, with or without lens, that produces strong High-lights and dark shadows. The quality is more dramatic and controllable, but generally less flattering, than Soft Light. 

Soft light-

Grey card-A Matte 18% reflectance card used instead of a subject for a Reflected Light Meter reading.

Reflector-Flat devices, mostly white, silver, or gold, that redirect the sun's and other source's rays. Lighting with reflectors is like lighting with lights - except no cables. Just cloud and wind worries.

Diffuser-

Intensity-

Direction: Where is the light coming from—the front, the side, or behind?
Intensity: How bright is each light source?
Color: What color is the light—white, red, blue…?
Contrast: Is the transition from the highlights to the shadows subtle or sudden?
Hardness: What do the edges of the shadows look like?