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We are barely scratching the surface of portrait photography here. Special portrait lighting has three main purposes:
- Create an illusion of depth (modeling).
- Create a mood.
- Normalize (or, conversely, emphasize) the subject's features.
Note: We start with the main light placed camera right and proceed left around the subject for each succeeding shot.
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Broad Lighting
Here the main light illuminates the side of the subject's face turned toward the camera -- the broad view. It tends to
flatten the illusion of depth and de-emphasize her facial features. Nevertheless, it is useful for widening an overly thin
face.
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Butterfly Lighting
Moving the light further camera-left, we hit the sitter right between the eyes producing a symmetrical butterfly
effect with the shadows on the features. With some softening, we could call this your basic glamour lighting. A well- proportioned,
oval face benefits most from this light.
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Short Lighting
Still further left, we get the popular short or narrow lighting. It narrows round faces and brings out the contours much
better than broad lighting.
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Rembrandt Lighting
Still further left around our subject, until a triangular patch of light remains on the leading cheek, is reminiscent of
many of Rembrandt's portrait paintings. As in butterfly lighting, the light needs to be fairly high -- like Rembrandt's studio
skylight.
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Split Lighting
Finally, at 90 degrees left so that only half of the subject's face is illuminated is aptly called split lighting. In addition
to creating dramatic effects, this lighting can hide defects on the shadow side or narrow a broad nose.
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