Checkerboard Lighting with One Light | Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 25 ноя 2024
- Checkerboard lighting gets its name from the juxtaposition of highlight and shadow in the image. To put it simply, the highlight side of the face is against the darker side of the background and then the shadow side of the face is against the brighter side of the background. In other words, light against dark, and dark against light!
This technique can be done subtly to create a bit of depth, separation, and contrast in an image, or can be very dramatic to create something more bold and graphic.
This type of look has been used for many decades by many of the masters of photography, most notably it was a favorite technique of Irving Penn. His carefully sculpted portraiture often used a version of this visual contrast. While he typically used a single light source and blocking light, this look can be achieved using hard or soft light and even multiple light sources.
Step 1: Begin by using a light-toned background. You will need to be able to create both highlight and shadow on a single background, so using something like dark grey or black will not work. Aim for light grey, white, or a lightly textured canvas. In this example, I used the Savage Universal Super White seamless paper background.
Step 2: To achieve the checkerboard effect you must begin by creating distinct areas of highlight and shadow on the face. In other words, flat light won’t work! Move your main light source off to the side to create shadows on the face.
In this example, I used the Profoto D2 with a Magnum Reflector (hard light modifier) and moved the light into a Rembrandt light position. This creates a distinct triangle highlight under the eye on the shadow side of the face (here camera right). The choice of a hard light modifier creates shadows that are more defined (both on the subject’s face and the background).
Step 3: Now that there are defined highlight areas and shadow areas you now can begin to play with shadows in the background.
If you are using a single light source you can begin by trying to feather the light. In other words, you can point the light across the frame (away from the background) as you attempt to make the background appear darker on the left side of the frame in order to be a stark contrast to the face on the left.
This, can be more challenging to control. For that reason, in this setup, I chose to add a flag into the shot to selectively block the light. A flag is anything that can be used to block the light; you could use a V-Flat, a piece of cinefoil, or even a piece of cardboard if you must- you whatever you have on hand! I used a Matthews 24x36 black flag to block light from the left side of the frame (held up by a C-stand and knuckle).
I carefully positioned the flag to cast a shadow on the background directly behind the subject for a more defined shadow. Because my main light source was a hard light modifier, this makes the shadow transitions even more abrupt.
Remember that the closer you bring the flag (or thing blocking light) to the background, the more defined the shadow edges will be. As you move it away from the background and closer to the light source, the softer the edge will be.
Step 4: As you capture the image, remember that slight movements in camera angle, perspective, and subject’s pose may throw off the alignment of your checkerboard lighting, so keep an eye on it!
You can see in the video that the shoot was captured in a very small footprint and using minimal gear. In fact, a bare bulb and a piece of cardboard could do the trick in a pinch! While the results could be done in black and white or color, by choosing to process in high contrast black and white I am able to create a graphic and timeless result.
SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:
➥ / adoramatv
__________________________________
✘ PRODUCTS USED:
Canon R5
adorama.rfvk.n...
Canon RF 24-105mm 4.0
adorama.rfvk.n...
Profoto D2
adorama.rfvk.n...
Profoto Magnum Reflector
adorama.rfvk.n...
Savage Universal Super White
adorama.rfvk.n...
Matthews 24x36" flag
adorama.rfvk.n...
Avenger C-Stand
adorama.rfvk.n...
#portraitphotography #lightingtutorial #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ Facebook / adorama
➥ Instagram / adorama
➥ Twitter / adorama
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop www.adorama.com/
➥ Blog www.adorama.co...
➥ Create No Matter What www.adorama.co...
________________________________
Lindsay Adler
learnwithlindsa...
Samuel Bouret
/ samuelbouret
Makeup: Joanne Gair
Hair: Linh Nguyen
Styling: Raytell Bridges
________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
Lindsay, I like the time, effort and thought you put into this lighting technique. And how you explain it. Well done👏👏👏👏
I could watch this a million times!
I have always liked the way Irving Penn's studio fashion images looked like, thank you Lindsay Adler for featuring The Checkerboard Lighting its good to learn terminology!
Lindsay you are such a good communicator of photography techniques. Thank you for sharing so many ideas to the world so everyone can oncrease their knowledge and non photographers can better appreciate our work.
Who wouldn't want to be photographed by Lindsay. Beautiful work as always. Hope to see her at ShutterFest this year. xoxoxo
I wish Lindsay had a daily show she explains everything perfectly and then creates a great image. Thank you for your knowledge and helping us all!!!
Another great tutorial on lighting, Lindsay. Thank you for continuously sharing your creative gift in photography. GOD bless.
This lighting technic is masterpiece, I'm inspired. Thanks for the tips.
This is the first time I've heard of Checkerboard lighting, and it is Awesome!!!
Hello Lindsay. I really liked this tip. Thank you very much for sharing.
fantastic Lindsay Thank you
Lindsay, I love Your energy, style mood and research on each your photo. Thank You!
That's brilliant. Thank you. So simple when you know how.
¡Al ver cómo iluminas parece tan fácil! Pero cuando se domina la tecnica, es fácil. Lo difícil es concebir la idea. Sos maravillosa enseñando, gracias.
Absolutely fantastic tutorial! Thank you!!
Thanks, nice to see that with a small amount of equipment great results are possible!
Love the results and wonderful breakdown of the technique. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Adorama and Lindsay this guide is amazing, I can't wait to try it.
Thank you, Lindsey I just got a new background and will be applying this. Great ideas to use in my own work peace stay safe
Excellent! Very well explained.
Nice video Lindsay, as usual. I really like the way you explain things and of course your work. ❤️🙏🏻
I absolutely love, love your work! Truly stunning!
I LOVE YOUR WORK!
Another great video Lindsay, thank you.
Great video and using minimal kit for a stunning look !
Great video, Lindsay. Hello again from MT!
Love this, going to try it tonight. Your model has a gift for remaining perfectly still. Bravo.
amazing as always!
great effort .. ammazing results .. thank you so much
Those pictures are so nice, I'd call it chessboard lighting. Thank you for the tutorial.
Wow,I go try this. Thank you so much
You nailed that shot at 7:40 that is a Vogue cover right there.
Thanks for this! And your model is stunning!
This was awesome
That looks really cool! Thanks
FANTASTIC! Lindsay- I'm a longtime commercial shooter, degreed in same/66; like yourself- studied/admired the greats:...Avedon, Penn, plus MANY more, But: YOU are up there in the photographic pantheon of Greats. Period. #HugeTALENT
ps: I love Annie, but she can't talk about the process/SHOW- Teach, like your can. #Kudos
Nice and simple, thank you.
What a legend!
Learned this technique from youuuuuu ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
xoxo
Great Job Lindsay. Great technique and the images are stunning.
Merci Lindsay. Great content, inspiring, detailled and lovely explained
Great tutorial! Can you share what setup you’re using to hang the seamless? Looks like two autopoles with a custom crossbar?
I always learn a lot from these videos. Awesome work as always.
Amazing technique 🥰
This was very interesting and presented very well. Thank you for taking us through this at a pace that was just perfect. The model’s makeup was perfect for this shoot. Also, nice shoes …
Agreed on all points! ;-)
Beautiful.
This is a beautiful inspiring presentation, well structured and presented. I have one question though, I might have missed it, what were your camera settings?
I love to work like this
Outstanding, On my way to hobby lobby to get a black form board. ❤️
Thank you for this tutorial 🙏
you are just amazing
Nice one but those reflectors were all made for the older style of flashes where the tube was exposed outwards. They still work but with the same effect like they do on the Pro versions of profoto lights. The newer style with the bulb hidden inside do not do the same thing on any modifier. Bummer but true.
Great video :-) We did similar at college, using two lights. They referred to it as chiaroscuro :-)
My God, I thought Lindsay was using a mannequin in this shoot.
My heart almost jumped out of my chest when the model moved!!
SUPER. SUPER , THE BEST VIDEOS
நன்றாக இருக்கிறது வாழ்த்துக்கள் R.MANOHAR-CHENNAI
Really great job Lindsay! How is this cute hat called? Greetings from Austria - Toni
Awesome...
Queen.
Anyone know where in the UK I could buy a headpiece like this please? Lowish budget.
you re awesome L.A.
🔥🔥🔥
This lighting technique is also known as chiaroscuro.
👏👏
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- Swole Beast🤙🏽🙏🏽✌🏽
😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨
L I T T T !
☺️
Shame you did not talk about how you got your meter reading as she looks blown out on the highlights on my screen
I don't meter unless every shot has to be consistently the same and sometimes the blown out look is what I'm going for. I don't always play by the rules. :D
Am I the only one that noticed the nuckle on the left and got uncomfortable? Might be the years on lighting dept haha
Couldn't you also turn her more and simultaneously rotate the light around her more, creating the same Rembrandt triangle, but casting less light onto the background? Granted, it would still have falloff, so it wouldn't be super sharp. But you wouldn't need a flag if the falloff all happens behind your subject.