Some types of lighting have been traditionally associated with certain subjects. Side
lighting has long been considered appropriate for masculine portraits because it
emphasizes rugged facial features (see Figure 21.14). Butterfly lighting was often used
in the past for idealized portraits of Hollywood movie stars. The lighting is named for
the symmetrical shadow underneath the nose. The main light is placed high and in
front of the subject, which smoothes the shadows of skin texture, while producing
sculptured facial contours.318 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
FIGURE 21.14
Side lighting.Lighting can influence the emotional character of an image. Figures 21.10–15 show
how the mood of a photograph can be influenced merely by changing the position
of one light. If photographs never lie, some of these images at least bend the truth
about the subject’s personality.
Most photographs made with artificial light employ more than one light source. A
fill light or reflector is almost always used to lighten shadows. Sometimes, an accent
light is used to produce bright highlights, and a background light is added to create
tonal separation between the subject and background. Any one of these lights alone
will not create the image necessary (see Figure 21.15). They must work together.
Here is more information on the lighting arrangements demonstrated in the previ-
ous figures. These concepts are applicable to portrait lighting, and all photography
using artificial light.