Feather Your Light: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering This Photography Technique
Lighting can make or break a photograph. It's the secret sauce that transforms ordinary snapshots into captivating images. One technique that can dramatically elevate your photography is feathering light. But what exactly is feathering light, and how can you master it? In this video , John Gress will delve into the world of feathered light, exploring its benefits, techniques, and how to incorporate it into your photography.
Understanding Feathering Light
Feathering light is a technique where you position your light source slightly off-center and angled towards your subject. This creates a softer, more diffused light compared to direct lighting.
Benefits of Feathering Light
- Controls Contrast: By feathering your light, you can control the contrast in your image. This is especially useful when photographing subjects with high contrast features, such as people with glasses or shiny objects.
- Enhances Texture and Dimensionality: Feathering light can add depth and dimension to your subject. It accentuates textures and creates a more three-dimensional appearance.
- Creates a Dramatic Look: While feathering might seem like it would soften the light, it can actually create a more dramatic look with defined shadows.
How to Feather Your Light
- Position Your Light: Place your light source slightly off-center and angled towards your subject. A good starting point is to position the bottom of your light modifier (like a softbox) at the level of your subject's jawline and the back of the modifier slightly in front of their face.
- Experiment with Angles: Don't be afraid to experiment with different angles and distances to achieve the desired effect.
- Use a Softbox: A softbox is a great tool for feathering light as it produces a softer, more diffused light.
Feathering light is a versatile technique that can significantly enhance your photography. By understanding its benefits, techniques, and dispelling common myths, you can master this art and create stunning images.
You may also like: Lighting Handbook Tutorial - Breaking down a three light setup to show off the model's physique
About John Gress:
For over 20 years Chicago photographer & director John Gress has created stunning photography and videos for some of America’s largest companies and international media outlets. His work has included national lifestyle advertising, portraits and videos for the beauty industry and action photography of professional athletes. Professional Photographer Magazine called Gress “one of the nation’s foremost experts on lighting.” Let's Get Connected: www.johngress.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | To learn more about my online learning platform please visit johngress.com/academy
Text, image and video via John Gress | Lighting Handbook: johngress.com/lightinghandbooks
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