Rembrandt Lighting

1. Field Trip Photos and Zoom Lens Photos

   Edit your photos! You can use Lightroom or Photoshop (adjustment layer). Submit your best 10 Photographs to Schoology AND complete the reflection.

2. Rembrandt Lighting

   

   Today we'll be working with Rembrandt lighting and shooting with your 50 mms.

   Rembrandt lighting is a photographic technique that uses a single light source placed at about a 45-degree angle to the subject, creating a dramatic, high-contrast look. To achieve it, the light source should be positioned high and to the side of the subject, so that a small, inverted triangle of light appears on the cheek of the shadowed side of the face. A catchlight is the reflection of the light source in a person's eyes. 

   How to set up Rembrandt lighting

   • Position the key light: Place your main light source (like a flash or a lamp) to one side of the subject, angled about 45 degrees from the camera's position.

   • Adjust the height: Lift the light source above the subject's eye level and angle it down.

   • Refine the position: Make small adjustments to the light's height and angle until you see a small triangle of light on the shadowed cheek.

   • Use a reflector (optional): A reflector can be used to bounce light into the shadow areas to even out the contrast, but it is not mandatory for the basic effect. 

   How to notice if it's Rembrandt lighting

   • Look for the triangle of light: The most defining characteristic is a small, inverted triangle of light on the cheek opposite the light source.

   • Check the triangle's size: This triangle should be no wider than the width of the eye and no taller than the length of the nose.

   • Observe the shadow: The shadow from the nose should connect with the triangle of light on the cheek, but the triangle itself should not "break" the shadow cast by the nose. If the shadow doesn't connect, you are likely seeing loop lighting, not Rembrandt lighting. 

   What a catchlight is

   • A catchlight is the reflection of a light source in the subject's eyes.

   • For a successful Rembrandt lighting portrait, it is important to have a catchlight in both eyes, which helps to give the eyes a sense of life and dimension.

   What does it look like?