Name That Lighting Pattern

While watching some of Mark Wallace's great youtube video's (Traditional Lighting Setups:Ep 206) I decided that I would do a quick study and write up trying a few of the patterns

Please forgive me as there was no post processing other than turning these raw files into low res jpegs to post up.  All of these pics were shot using a standard alienbee  classic 7" reflector.  The same effect can be achieved using a soft box, but without complete darkness it becomes much harder to see the light.  The 1st pattern we have here is very simple to do.

Loop Lighting- is named for the loop-shaped shadow that it creates under the nose, this is probably the most used lighting pattern.  It is a relatively flattering and adaptable pattern that lights a large portion of the face while giving a sense of depth.  This light is conceived by placing the main light above the face(not to high now) at about a 45° angle.  The sitters face, in this case I call her my girlfriend :-) , face is also angled away from the light. 

Which is soo-cool about this is that it actually creates another type of pattern which we will call for all intensive purposes broad lighting. 

Broad Lighting- this can be defined as light hitting or illuminating the broad side of the face, or side of the head visible to the  camera ?????

When I first saw this and looked at blog after blog and definition after definition, I kinda understood it but was still like huh (kinda like the inverse square law- that's like quadruple huhhhhh , head explodes-nah just kidding but we will get to that some day down the line ).

Broad lighting is pretty much if you can see the entire ear of the model and the light is coming from that side you have broad light.  this type of light is generally used to make a face appear fuller. So, if you have a model that is on the extremely petite side, this lighting effect will help to add some pounds  roundness to the face.

Excuse my crappy NYC apartment, but its hard in the big city.  This pic shows where I had my lighting setup for this broad lighting shot. The light is about 12-24" away from my girlfriend and aimed down at about at 45ish° angle.

*Keynotes- these pics were actually taken using just the modeling light.
 Why did I use the modeling light? well living in a pretty ruff section of ny, the last thing you want people walking buy to see is lights flickering off and on. Its like saying "party over here", or "hey, lets go and checkout those purtty lights when he's not home" :-( ...

Secondly, while using just your modeling light you are able to play with and see how the light and shadows interact with one another.  Like I've said in previous post I'm not an expert and not formally trained. With that in mind, no matter how many blogs I visit or workshops I watch,  nothing will be the same as actually taking a hands on class or trying to do it yourself.  Most of the folk we now follow online, most are classically trained in the art, so most of this info has been engraved into their skulls.  As for up and comers like you and me ( I hope no one too experienced reads this, blushing), we need to practice try and try again until it sinks in . 

As juvenile as it may seem I'm just learning that the higher you push your lights up the lower the shadows go - as seen by the shadow on the wall behind my model. This will also determine where the loop shadow will fall on your subjects face.  Place it too high and the loop shadow starts to touch the subjects lips, which is not very flattering at all.  Place light to low and the nose shadow starts to creep up the nose headed towards the eyes.

Closed loop- Now lets say you want to close the loop( which just means connecting that nose shadow to the larger shadow on the side of the face that is already in shadow.  You simply start to walk your light around to a more 55-60ish° degree angle and bam there you have it.

Butterfly Lighting- probably one of the most used in beauty portraiture.  This lighting method is used by creating a butterfly like shadow under the nose, which you can clearly see in this pic ( its butterfly in your face dark ).  Generally you would want to introduce a second light ,fill card or reflector.  This second light source will open up the butterfly shadow and will also fill in that harsh  deep down dark shadow under the neck. 

*keynote- if your working with a heavier rounder subject you may want to leave a little more shadow as it tends to make the neck look smaller. 

The butterfly light tends to be just about on axis.   When I say on axis I mean right in front of the model to maybe about 5-10° ( I-love this ° symbol thing)off  axis. The strobe head is  pointed down in a 45° angle. 

I will leave the others for a follow up blog. I thought I actually took the pics but in my haste to get some sleep I think I deleted them.  But reading about them will only help but so much pic up your cam and give it a try. Can't find a hot male or female model? Well do like I did.  I went to a wig store in Manhattan and purchased my girlfriend here for about  $18 bucks.  I kinda ruined her face trying to put a gas mask over it (sorry babe- still love you) but she still can be used for most lighting setups to get a sense of what the light will look like. 

 Want a guy doll head? this may be a little more tricky.   I found that eBay would probably be the best place to find them, as most hair stores cater to women. 
Well house I don't have an Alienbee, Profoto, Einstein, nothing nada zip well, maybe a speed light. 

Well I'm pretty sure you have a simple lamp in your house.  Pop that shade off  get the room as dark as possible and walk that light around your subject.  Don't worry about taking pics at this point just watch the patterns that are created with the shadows. Take the light closer and further back from your subject and study how much darker and lighter your shadows become. 

 Don't have a  lamp you say. Well go down to your local hardware store and pick up 1 or 2 work lights (the ones with  the clips are cool and pretty cheap) with the reflector should cost more than $20 bucks. So, what are you waiting for give it a try. Life is short and times awaistin.