Assignment 2: Light Direction with Sweep background

top

front

side with fill

45/45 with fill

45/45 with controlled background spill

Seamless sweep background:

The first still life exercise explored the use of a single plane table-top design. In other words, we were shooting from above, down onto the subject and the table. There was not a horizon line or a separate background plane (such as a wall)

The second design will be, technically, a two plane still life. It will have a table surface and a wall surface, perpendicular to it. However, the transition between these two planes will be moderated through the use of a sweep. As a result, there will be no visible horizon line. Instead we will have a gradual transition between the two planes. This set-up is useful, also, for exploring the use of light fall-off to create the illusion of depth, especially with the use of top-light. It is a "classic," and versatile set-up for photographing things like products, art objects, in a way that is clean, neutral, and perhaps a bit formal.

Exploring light direction:

Orientation of light direction to the subject can affect how that subject appears, especially with regard to a sense of volume, depth and ground.

Again, choose a three-dimensional opaque object (avoid metal, glass or shiny things) that will work for a table-top image. It should have decent height, width and depth.

For your subject, explore the effect of the following light directions. Please use lower contrast light for this assignment, but optimize as you see fit. A soft box is recommended. Meter every time the light is moved.

For this assignment, explore the effects of the following light directions. Variations: For each, shoot with and without reflector fill

• Top*
• Front
• Side
• Side/back
• 45/45
• 45/45 with controlled background spill

*Top light

The top-light design can be used to effectively illuminate many subjects with a good sense of volume. It is a fairly passive lighting design that calls little attention to itself, allowing the subject to be revealed in a faithful way. 

However, this elegant design has another great advantage...it can be used to create a gradient background, through the use of light fall-off. This can lend a sense of formal polish to the photography of objects. While it generally has more commercial application...it can also be used creatively. See chapter 5 in the book.

Due dates:

• Review Chapters 1 and 2. Read: Chapter 5, pages 95-123 (up to Glossy Box)
• Shooting (in groups) due by end of class 2/1
• Individual creative exploration due 2/6, beginning of class