Assignment 4 - Light
For this assignment I was to use light to show the physical properties of a single object.
In particular I had to show 2 images for each of the following given properties.
Shape
Form
Texture
Colour or Any Interesting/Unusual lighting scenario
Shape
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| Shape 1 |
For Shape 1 I used a straight silhouette where I lit a white wall with a flashgun and under exposed the figure of the puppet. This gave the a good outline of the shape of the puppet while giving no suggestion of 3 dimension.
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| Shape 2 |
With Shape 2 I used backlight from the incoming sun light and although a shadow can suggest 3 dimension and become more about form I deliberately positioned myself in direct line of the shadow to suggest a continuation of the shape of the puppet while the rim light around the figure helps separate it from the slightly messy background. The long rectangular crop was also deliberately used to highlight the long shadow create by the early winter sun.
Form
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| Form 1 |
In Form 1 I used 2 flashguns to try and capture the form of the puppet. I attached a homemade snoot to one flashgun and this was my main light from the right. The other had another homemade attachment, this time a grid and was used as a filler from the left to light the front and face of the puppet. The main light raps around the figure while creating a useful shadow that gives more dimension to the form of the puppet in particular emphasising the nose and its size.
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| Form 2 |
Here in Form 2 I prefered a monochrome tone where with a backlit rim light and the 2 shadows, helped to project the form of the puppet. Again I used the same 2 flashguns with the same attachments, in the same positions as in Form 1 but changed my position to create the backlight and the shadows.
Texture
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| Texture 1 |
Here for texture 1 I introduced side lighting with just a little fill light to lighten the side of the face. With the small, hard shadows created by the side light from the left the texture of both the clothing and the wooden face are emphasised.
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| Texture 2 |
Again using a monochrome tone and with side lighting, the textures of the puppet and its strings, along with the wooden table are shown. I had one main light coming from the left and another from the right to create a highlight which helps add some form to the wooden textured face.
Colour
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| Colour |
Here I used a plain background dimly lit by a flashgun and a soft light from the from left of the hanging puppet. I also introduced a white board to the right just to light some of the shadows on the right side. The bright red, blues and the yellow of the puppets clothes and wooden frame are emphasised by this lighting.
Interesting, Unusual Lighting
My Tutor had suggested some photographers work to study for this section of the course. One in particular that I found very intriguing was the work of American photographer Edward Weston. His Natural Studies and in particular this Pepper, was my inspiration for my final image.
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| Edward Weston Pepper, 1930 |
His ability to show the peppers remarkable shape, form and texture in this shot yet in such isolation, was enough to encourage me to try and create an interesting shot of my puppet. Although my subject was obviously very different to the smooth curves of the pepper I wanted to use the light to try and give the feeling of the puppet being a very lonely subject while also trying to suggest a human element by highlighting its form in a very isolated setting, after all Pinocchio always wanted to be "A real boy".
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| Interesting/Unusual A Real Boy |
Conclusion
I enjoyed this section of the course and was intrigued when I began to understand the reasoning for specific lighting of a subject.
The assignment had me slightly stretched where I found it hard to get out and about with a subject and camera in hand. This was only due to my personal circumstances and hence the reason I ended up using flash and window light around my house to complete the assignment. I hope I have managed to show what I have learned in this section, I know that I have gained valuable knowledge that will certainly help my photography progress.
