Old masters lighting - February 2011

**Marko** · 02-01-2011, 11:08 AM

Hi members,

This is a REALLY interesting assignment that may take a bit of research/effort but the results will SURELY Improve your photography if you make the effort.

The majority of members/visitors will likely be unfamiliar with this lighting technique so here are a few resources.

When it comes to portraiture - Rembrandt lighting was regularly used and here are a few resources that describe the technique and have pix as well.
Rembrandt lighting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Category:Rembrandt lighting - Wikimedia Commons
http://people.rit.edu/andpph/photofo...t_lighting.pdf
Rembrandt Lighting Exposed In Photography | Lens Diaries

When it comes to still-life photography JAS_Photo (Thx Jas) wrote the following:
Old Masters style lighting is generally one light lighting. A north facing window, for example. It is generally high, to the front of the subject, and camera left. A white wall, reflector, or white bristol board can be used to reflect some light back but the lighting is generally fairly low key. Textures, shape and balance are important elements to consider. Some examples from the web:

http://1x.com//photos/still-life/30259/
http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/still-life/32212/
http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/still-life/30079/
http://1x.com/v2/#photos/still-life/37539/

Hope that helps and inspires!

Ok then who will post first!

**kat** · 02-01-2011, 12:33 PM

Oh I like this! And very available for any of us to do! Look forward to everyones posts!

**Donna** · 02-03-2011, 04:10 PM

Oh Yeah!... I like this theme!

... It's one I have been dabbling in for quite some time now .... Really looking forward to seeing everyones takes on this project!

My husband brought me home a nice Rainbow Trout , he caught ice fishing ... So here's my efforts from yesterday .

**Marko** · 02-03-2011, 05:13 PM

VERY well done Donna!!!

In order to help others out, care to share your lighting recipe?

Thx!
Marko

**JAS_Photo** · 02-03-2011, 06:01 PM

Very nice work, Donna!

**Donna** · 02-03-2011, 06:26 PM

Thanks Marko!

... and thank you JAS

That recipe would be ..... Window light and some rearranging of furniture .
I moved a the table to a window to catch the afternoon light shining in , so that the light shone across the scene from the right and so that the light started falling off just before hitting the gunny sack , that I hung up as a backdrop . A sheer curtain also filtered the edge of the window light at the back of the scene ..... Also , there is a lamp on to the left of the scene and a ceiling light on just behind me ... I had to keep repositioning the fish to get the light to hit it right ... If the sun had been a wee bit higher in the sky , it would have been easier ... Living here in the north , the sun is not very high in the sky this time of the year . ( just thought I had better add that , as for some of you , the sun is a lot higher in the sky in the afternoons than it is here )

In PP , I added a bit of vignetting to frame the scene .

**Mad Aussie** · 02-03-2011, 06:50 PM

Very nice work Donna. Cool assignment!

**Marko** · 02-03-2011, 07:06 PM

Thanks for sharing that Donna, i know it will be useful to others.

**Donna** · 02-06-2011, 12:36 AM

Here's another one ... This time I used artificial lighting . Nothing fancy , just a $20.xx shop light on a stand , that I picked up at the hardware store . I fastened some aluminium foil around it to direct the light ... I held up a big semi transparent white roll-up cutting board in front of the light to diffuse the light .....

I know , it sounds kinda redneck , dosen't it?

... But , I didn't use any duct tape