Today's lecture was mostly about light and using reflection to create a better amount of light. Using a reflector, we created warmer light using the gold reflector, and softer light using the silver reflector. The purpose of the reflectors is to give light to areas where there wouldn't normally be enough to take a photograph. Today we used different students in different amount of lights to demonstrate the benefit of reflectors, both in doors and outdoors. They can be very useful when it comes to taking portraits. We also covered clever ways to make people both be more comfortable while being photographed, as well as appear more comfortable and natural.
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The first photograph taken of Addie (above) is taken without any reflected light. This is the natural light and I felt this photograph would be a good contrast of when reflected light is added.
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Missed with the reflector a bit, but you can still see how the light from the reflector creates a better image. Ironically enough, it turns out that there is a reflecting jacket in the photo (completely unintentionally) and that's where you can see the light being reflected. The light makes her sking glow better, and allows for an all-around better photograph.
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Sorry about this one, Tyler! This picture is completely taken within natural light, it shows how when using the correct lighting through windows, you can make a natural looking shadow on your own. It is not always necessary to use reflectors in low light situations.
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Model of the year winner: Kieran Smith. For this picture we used natural light coming from the window, as well as reflected light coming from the same sign. You clan see the contrast between the two sides of his face, one side is much brighter. We probably should've had the reflector stand on the other side, but I still think this makes for an interesting photograph, catching the pure hatred my friend has for being photographed.
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Another example of reflection being used to warm up a photograph, you can really see it accented on his neck, and the side of his face. It creates a cool sort of glowing effect. Creating radiance.
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I included this one because I feel like there is almost too much reflection! It doesn't look natural, the way the light is creating a shadow within a shadowed area and the entire wall is lightened up behind her. Perhaps a different angle would be appropriate if the intent was to take a more natural picture.
My famous photographer for today is Brian Duffy. Much like Annie Leibovitz, Brian Duffy was responsible for magazine photos, album covers, and photos of celebrities. I thought he would be a good example for today when we were taking portraits of people.
A self portrait, taken from his wikipedia page.
David Bowie used this photo as an album cover.
Using different levels of light, Duffy was able to capture people the way they wanted to be captured. If you look at the [
picture of Bowie above, his chest looks much lighter than his face which is darker, the make up is accented and shadowed. The entire back ground is white and the picture allows for you to see the wildness that David Bowie always tried to accent. In his self portrait, you could see the shadows within his jacket and on his face. The expression of a man deep in thought, and comfortable with photographs. Using light Duffy became one of the better photographs of his era, even though he once quit photography burning all his negatives. But what is any good career in art without some sort of breakdown. Duffy passed in 2010.
Source: Wikipedia as well as an obituary in the New York Times.
