Assignment #1: “Basic Lighting Types and Ratios”

Set up a gray seamless on a table making a sweep as demonstrated during class. Using only one light emphasize the form and shapes of a square, cylinder, and sphere by creating different qualities of light and controlling the lighting ratio of the scene. In each of the above you can only use one strobe light. Use fill cards to attain the appropriate lighting ratio along with flags and negative fill to reduce exposure in specific areas of the scene. Every shot requires maximum sharpness front to back and top to bottom.  Again, make sure that the object is proportionally correct, everything is in focus and record all data and exposure in your idea books. Note: It will be best if you work in teams but every student will turn in a set of jpeg files. 

Part A: Three Different Lighting Ratios

With the light coming from either the right or left side at about a 45˚ from camera create three different images with different lighting ratios:

1a. Good highlights with shadows that are dark and relatively sharp-edged.  The light quality should be dramatic, emphasizing shape and outline, but still giving some sense of depth. There should be no blown-out highlights along with some slight detail in the shadows.  The direction of the light should come from either the right or left side. (4:1)

2a. Shapes should have a longer transition from highlight to shadow with the shadow area having more detail and a greater sense of volume and depth than the first set-up. Now adjust the lighting to a lower ratio than 1a using a piece of foam-core. (3:1)

3a. Subject should still have good shape but the transition from highlight to shadow should be very subtle with good detail in the shadow area.  The lighting ratio should be even less than 2a.  ( 2:1)

Part B: Three Different Light Directions  

Photograph the same subject three times using a medium soft box light your subject from three different directions.  Use fill cards to create any type of lighting ratio you feel is appropriate.  1b. Lit from the Front;  2b Lit from the Side; 3b Lit from Back. Watch for lens flare!

The following is due: 2/2/2016

1. Six JPEG files, three for each of the lighting ratios and three for each of the lighting directions.  (as per demo in class)
2. Please label the files as follows: name_assign#1_1a (2a) (3a) / name_assign#1_1b (2b) (3b)       {as per demo in class)
3. Idea book with technical data; lighting diagrams showing placement of lights, fill cards, gobos, camera, etc.