Category Archives: Learning Log 5-Portrait Basics

What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?
The most important factors in shooting portrait photos is to focus on the face, as well as using proper lighting techniques. You also have to make your subject comfortable and to capture some sense of emotion in the photograph.

What is the difference between broad and short lighting?
Broad lighting is when the main light is on the side of the face that is facing the camera, while short lighting places the main light on the side of the face that is away from the camera.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?
The main light is the light that is used to create shadows and sharp contrast.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the fill light?
The fill light makes shadows less dark by adding light to them.

In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?
The background light is used to separate the subject from the background.

This picture is my favorite picture because of Sean’s expression, as well as the contrast of light (from this face) to the shadowing.

1. Important factors to consider when shooting a portrait, are the subject and their comfort level, the lighting and the background.

2. In broad lighting the light is on the ear side of the face in a three-quarter view, in short lighting the light is on the person’s facial features.

3. The function of the main light is to illuminate the person usually at a 45 degree angle, and you will usually end up with a triangle of shadowed light on the opposite side of the nose.

4. The function of the fill light is to remove the shadows on the opposite side of the face, and thereby soften the portrait by illuminating the entire face.

5. The function of the background light is to illuminate the background which helps give space between the subject of the portrait and the background and also brightens the entire picture.

I like this photo that I took because it is one of the fun ones that were taken, although we were using the fill light you only see part of its effect because Ruben was raising his arms in a cheer.  Because of this you see some of the effects of the fill light, but not all of it, and some shadow is showing on his forehead, also he had taken off his sweatshirt and the red of his t-shirt complimented his skin tones better than the white of his sweatshirt.

1. What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?

When shooting a portrait, the subject should always face the camera. The subject should be positioned at least 4 feet or 5 feet in front of the backdrop or background, so a shadow won’t be casted.

Light sources that are distant and small cast sharp shadows with high contrast, with the angle of the light coming from one main direction. Light sources that are bigger and closer cast softer shadows with low contrast, with the angle of the light coming from various directions.

2. What is the difference between broad and short lighting?

Broad lighting is used in a 3/4th quarter view, placing the light on the side of the ear that is visible. A broad highlight should appear on the subject’s hair. Narrow, or short lighting is used by placing the light on the side of the ear that is visible.

3. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?

Main light is the light that is mainly in focus in a picture.

4. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of  the fill light?

Fill light is when you add light to the shadow or the side of the face that’s not lit, by using a reflector.

5. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?

Background light is when the lighting in the background separates the subject from the whole picture, adding depth to the photograph as a whole.

1. What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?

The subject’s expression, the light and the shadows created by it, the frame (how and where you put your subject in the picture), in other words, the composition of the photograph is really important

2. What is the difference between broad and short lighting?

The shadows that are created, in broad the shadows are more emphasized, while in short lighting the tones between highlights and shadows are not that apart from each other.

3. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?

To create shadows and highlights (contrast).

4. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of  the fill light?

To make the contrast not that drastic and more subtle.

5. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?

To make the background stand more than the subject, and create a nice effect of backlight, or to separate the subject from the background.

One of the photographs we took last class that I liked the most is this one because it looks quite emotional. It looks as if the subject, Kassandra, was serious/sad and also I like the gradient created by the light.

1. What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?

It is really important to have knowledge abou lighting, including how to work with reflectors as an important tool.

2. What is the difference between broad and short lighting?

The broad light will create more light toward the side of the face. Short light makes gestures be more remarkable.

3. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?

The main light will be placed to help with shadows directly to the person that’s getting photograph. It can makes shadows stronger and sharp or lighter and diffused.

4. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of  he fill light?

To add light to the shadow side of the face.

5. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?

The background light can help with, either creates silhouettes or to help to create high spots of light getting away shadows.

This is my favorite picture that I took today.

I really like how the broad light is working in his face and the bright light that the background one is giving to his back silhouette. Its even on the sides and sharp. His features are well shown in this shoot.

1. What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?

The important factors when shooting a portrait are not exposed with too much light. Also, the direction of the lighting.

2. What is the difference between broad and short lighting?

Broad lighting is when the portrait of a face is closest to the camera has more light where as short lighting of the face has the features.

3. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?

The function of the main light is to have a good amount of light in front of the subject.

4. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of  he fill light?

Fill light adds light to the shadows on the subject.

5. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?

Background light is lighting the background that separates the subject from the background.

I chose this photo because the shadow is not to much but it has a good amount of light to show the front view of the face. Also, the expression of his face is very relaxed. This was used using the Main Light.

This is most certainly one of my favorite shots that I took of her. I took a better one that had her smiling really nice which took forever to get her to do, but she deleted that one so now this is my favorite. I love it so much because its her best serious faced picture and I can most certainly see this being used in a magazine somewhere.

Important factors of taking a portrait picture is the amount of light on the subject and the angle of the light. Short light is when the light faces the subject and their face is light up and broad light is

when their face is away from the lighting. The function of fill light is to light up the side of the subject that the light doesn’t face directly, with that in mind, the light is supposed to bounce the main light onto the subject. Background lighting shows some sort of division between the subject and the background.

1. What are important factors to consider when shooting a portrait?

When shooting a portrait, the most important factors to consider are the subject and the lighting. The subject needs to be able to cooperate in order to produce the    best possible picture, and the lighting must work for the situation. For example, dramatic lighting is usually a minus when portraits are involved.

2. What is the difference between broad and short lighting?

In broad lighting, there highlights that falls on the side of the visible ear. This works for people with glasses. In short lighting, the highlights fall on the hairline.

3. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the main light?

The main light is there so a proper portrait can be taken, without exposure being too high or too low.

4. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the fill light?

The fill is meant to reflect light from the main light so the shadows become softer. Without it, there would be too much contrast and too much drama.

5. In a classic basic portrait set up, what is the function of the background light?

The background light is meant to separate the background from the subject, so the latter stands out more.

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This was one of the best pictures we took, in my opinion.
I like that the shadows are so soft here, I didn’t think it was possible in a dark indoor setting.
The subject manages to stand out even without a background light.