Masterclass: Understanding Catchlights with Michael Corsentino

Catchlights are the lights reflected in a subject’s eyes. Michael Corsentino normally uses strobes to capture them. Catchlights add life and sparkle, while their absence can result in dull, lifeless images. There are no hard and fast rules, and sometimes you may want dead and lifeless. It’s all about knowing what you want, why you want it and how to create it. But portraits are almost always better with catchlights.



Regardless of the light source used, the goal remains the same: replicating what exists in nature. In nature, we have only one light source, the sun, and there’s only one.



 I’m not a fan a multiple catchlights. There are exceptions to this, notably in the studio with certain fashion, cosmetics and beauty lighting applications, so we’ll look at them both ways. While studio lighting is a bit more forgiving in the catchlight department, my preference is still a single catchlight created by an overhead keylight. A single catchlight is more natural looking. Multiple bright lights reflecting in a subject’s eyes screams artificial lighting. - said Michael Corsentino-

Read the full post with more information on behindtheshutter.com/understanding-catchlights

Text, image and video via Behind the Shutter

SUBSCRIBE
Get Latest Videos,Promotions & Exclusive Offers Via Email:




We don't send spam!