Masterclass

BE CREATIVE WITH YOUR LIGHTS

O

nceyouhavemasteredthelightingset-upsoutlinedin
thischapter,therearenoboundariestothecreativity
youcanhaveinthestudio.Hereareafewexamplesofhow
a fewsimpletechniquescouldtake yourportraituretoa
different level, with a little experimentation and
imagination.

Gels

Gelsaresmallcolouredsquaresofacetateorplastic that
canbeattachedto thefrontofa spilland barndoorsto
createadifferentcolouredlightorcastoverastudioshoot.
Availableinawidevarietyofcolours,theycanbeusedto
add wonderfuldrama andmood in aportrait shoot,ata
fractionofthecostofbuyingmultiplepaperbackdrops.For
optimum results they are best used with a mid-grey
backdrop; this way youwill achievethe greatest colour
saturationfromyourgels.Usedsingularlyorinmultiples
they can create a wonderful atmosphere in a shot.

Whenusinggelsasabackground,thelightingratiosused
mustbeverycontrolledandtheclientplacedatacorrect
distance away from theback, in order to eliminate the
chanceofanylightspillbackontothesitter,asthiswill
maketheclientlookunattractive,especiallyifusingcertain
colours that may affect skin tone in a negative way.

Thekeylightshouldalsobepositionedinsuchamanneras
tonotaffectthewayinwhichthegelsareilluminatingthe