Lighting patterns can not only convey mood but of course highlight what we want, where we want it. I’ve written before of backlighting, but another favorite of mine is side light. Actually, the previous post on chiaroscuro also featured side lighting – it is an effective method of achieving it.
Jessica came into the studio wanting some fitness poses. Like athletic dancers, lighting from the side is a dramatic method of outlining a subject’s physique. It also produces some unique images as conceptually it is the inverse of what we normally expect: lighting something from the outside in. This is particularly true when you look at facial modeling. In addition to highlighting muscle tone, I think it adds interest to faces as well.
This pose was inspired by an image Jessica brought in. We changed it up a little by having her look at camera; this made the image more about her. I think it is an effective addition to her modeling portfolio.
