Light in Photography - LIGHTING - FLASH LIGHTING

LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS & CONTROLS.

While there is often variation in intensity and light quality between models and manufactures, the flash head without any accessories produces a very concentrated and direct ray of light, similar to the sun or a spotlight.

For the Body Symbols Project. I wanted to create abstraction through the play of high lights and deep shadows in the image, so I used a single direct studio flash head with no accessories for all these shots.

While for some images this is desirable for others the photographer might want to soften the light or throw a narrow beam of light.

An image from the Body Symbols Project

Simply by directing the light onto the subject in a different manner the illumination of the subject can be altered dramatically.

For the images for the implant work I used many studio flash units and directed all the light at the ceiling and walls adjacent to the subject. As the light bounced off the surfaces and reflected onto the subject from no single angle this technique provided a very soft light on the subject.

Move over image to view roll over image

Studio flash systems are designed to give a photographer a wide range of accessories to control the intensity and light quality.
Without buying any accessories, this inherent characteristic can be altered by improvisation to soften the light and create the effect the photographer requires. Tracing paper, tissue paper or the material used for silk screen printing can be inserted in front of the light path to diffuse and soften the light. To the main flash head can be added a variety of accessories, both factory and improvised.

Want to learn more? - do a workshop or one on one with Lloyd Godman