Lighting and Texture

 Lighting/ Texture/ Using Shadows

Shadows are as important to a studio photographer as light. Shadows and their characteristics affect a photo signifigantly. In fact, everything you do to change the way light falls onto your subject will also affect the shadows you produce.

Since photos are limited to being two dimensional, we use shadows to illustrate depth and dimension. Portraits without shadows, for example, will often seem flat and lifeless. This is why portrait photographers will go to great length to get their light source away from the camera position (light coming from the camera position will not cast attractive shadows, i.e. on-camera flash).

Shadows and their quality determine the amount of detail that is recorded with the camera. For example, a small or directional light casts hard shadows on even the smallest surface irregularity which helps show texture. On the contrary, larger diffused light sources reveal less texture having softer shadows.

Practical Work

The following studio set up was used to experiment with light to create texture.
Lighting was placed behind and pointed towards the subject and camera.
Honeycomb and barn doors were added to a light.
 Any shadows are reflected towards the camera.

studio set up

light behind the camera

image 1

Shadows creating texture. The metal parts shine as light is reflected, other fabrics absorb the light. 

like the texture and shadow

I like the simplicity of the shadow. i also like the rough texture with the smooth lemon  on it