Creating beautiful, soft light is an essential skill for any portrait photographer. This helpful video tutorial explores the benefits and techniques of using silk for lighting, offering a practical approach to achieving beautiful, even lighting.
Coming to you from Photographer Daniel Norton, this insightful video introduces the concept of using silk to create soft lighting. Norton emphasizes that while many people may use soft boxes, silk can offer greater versatility. It’s more portable and often cheaper, making it a great tool for shaping and controlling light. By adjusting the position of the light source relative to the silk, you can adjust how soft or strong the light is.
Norton sets the silkscreen low to create a flatter light, simulating the feel of morning or evening light. He points out that the white walls in his studio add reflection, enhancing the overall softness of the light. Using model lighting, he demonstrates how to position the main light source to achieve the desired effect. Turning off other lights to avoid unwanted interference, Norton set his camera to ensure a dark exposure from the start.
He explains that this type of soft, diffused light is ideal for reflective objects like sequins or groups of people where even the lighting is important. The flexibility of the silk setting allows for adjustments to create greater contrast if needed. Tilting the silk and repositioning the light can add emphasis to the shadows.
Norton also emphasized practical considerations, such as using sandbags to secure the silk and prevent accidents. This attention to detail ensures a safe and efficient working environment, especially when handling larger dimmers. Watch the video above for complete information about Norton.
If you want to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out »Face lighting: Lighting for portraits and portraits With Peter Hurley!”
