The very first time I seemed advice on Google to help me to understand lighting, I came across a long article by another photog all about how he was taught to "see the light". (By his mentor)
First thought that runs through my mind..."Google has failed me!" *GASP*
There's a man going on and on about the importance of the chicken egg...and there's me, eager to learn, and vaguely disappointed by an egg.
I didn't understand a blinking word the man wrote about the egg...and I did read the article from top to bottom in hopes he didn't really mean an egg...but he did!!
So...I decide to pull an egg out just to see. At first, yes, it was just an egg...sitting on my table...seriously.
And then it came to me. The more I stared at the egg, the more I could "see the light". It was there...with no beginning...with no end...with no specific starting point, and no specific stopping point. It wrapped itself around the shell of the egg as if it was trying to embrace it...sounds crazy I know...it's just a silly egg!
Yes I know your probably thinking the same things I was at first...but honestly go get an egg, set it down and just look at it...in any light.
I shot at eggs for quite some time after this, taking note to changes under differnt lights, including natural light. Choosing carefully the images I favoured, to the images that just didn't seem right. Taking notes, and further exploring my lighting an egg obsession.
And this little egg, has changed the way I "see" completely.
So once this was mastered(at least in my mind) I sought new subjects in my spare time, experimented, played and studied.
Then bored with not actually KNOWING what I was doing was right or wrong, I took a course!!
I learned sooooo much with all the angles, catchlight placement, settings, effects,dramatics and so on so forth.
It's completely changed my images and has literally cut my editing time in HALF...yes!!
So after being asked many, many times what I'm doing to make the new images work for me, I thought I'd take the time to share a few of the things I've learned over the past few months!! :)
The first image, starring my pretty egg, (the one that's almost black)is called rim lighting. It's dramatic, and stunning and I'm in awe of how an expecting mommy's tummy looks against it!! I haven't had one maternity client who didn't love the finished image using rim lighting!!
This next image is 45 degree...my favorite set up!
And the next is dreamy!! Elegant and classy in color or black and white!!
And this is a silhouette with some soft details...another of my favs!!
This is another silhouette but very little detail, just a blackened image...perfect for maternity!!
And this is more dreamy!
This is a 90 degree!
His is a 45 degree!
So I closing I just have to say that learning lighting is the best investment I could have made for my little company! I am forever grateful for the guidance I've received from my instructors!
I'm more than happy to share their names if anyone is interested!
