Pascal Baetens. Nude Photography. The Art and The Craft. 2007

80 exploring techniques

lighting gallery

lighting conditions do not have to be challenging or unusual

to be spectacular. the main rule is to try to avoid shooting

with the light behind you, as this will make the lighting look

flat. light coming from the side or from behind the model

creates the wonderfully strong lighting effects on this page.

i just used direct or indirect sunlight, or the lights in my

kitchen at night. i like to look for lighting opportunities within

the setting; doing this improves your improvisation skills.

i also tend to consider that studio equipment should stay

in the studio. on the facing page are some ideas for light

sources, used as props in the images. let it help fire your

imagination; the possibilities are endless.

Windows

early morning or late afternoon sunlight, or winter sunshine, creates lovely long

shadows. Find out which windows catch the light at different times of day, and

plan your photo sessions around that. there are also options for you on cloudy

days; fluorescent ceiling lights can give surprisingly good results. For the

photograph on the right i just used kitchen lights to create a backlit effect.