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lighting techniques

JuliePowell_Backlight-

Stepping into the light: Mastering dramatic portraits with backlighting

Forget the flat, studio flash. You know the classic Clamshell or Rembrandt lighting. Backlighting, where the light source comes from behind your subject, injects a captivating drama and dimension into creative portrait photography. It’s a technique used by countless photographers to create striking and unforgettable images, outside of the studio.

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Julie Powell_Lemon Tarts

Combining natural and artificial light for still life photography

Still life photography is all about creating captivating scenes with inanimate objects. While natural light often provides a soft, ethereal quality, artificial light offers precise control and versatility. By combining both, you can achieve stunning results that elevate your still-life imagery. Oh, and it’s not just still life, consider using

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How I got the photo: Green apples in macro

You don’t necessarily need a macro lens to capture great macro images. Take these photos of a green apple. I used my Tamron 70 – 30mm lens, but as I cannot really get close enough for true macro, I used my Vella extension tubes. Light was supplied by my Godox

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10 essential portrait lighting techniques you should master

Whether you’re new to portrait photography in the studio or want to elevate your craft, mastery of portrait lighting techniques is always a worthwhile goal. If you’ve already started doing your research, you most likely now know three to five that you must familiarize yourself with. Today’s featured video, however,

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Feathering your light: A softer approach to portraits

Feathering your light is a technique that involves pointing your light source slightly away from your subject, rather than directly at them. This creates a softer, more flattering light that can dramatically improve the look of your portraits. Why feather your light? In the examples above the image on the

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Julie Powell - Lighting

Artificial lighting: Do you really need it?

Here’s a funny thing: Some photographers will ONLY use natural light, claiming they don’t NEED artificial light. Meanwhile, some studio photographers claim they ONLY use artificial light. Often (but not always), these photographers only use one or the other, as they haven’t really learned the power of the other. But

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Andrea with clamshell lighting

Creating beautiful portraits with clamshell lighting

There are lots of different lighting styles out there to choose from. But when it comes to simple, beautiful portraits, it’s hard to go past clamshell lighting. What is clamshell lighting? Clamshell lighting is a simple, two-light setup. Place both lights facing your subject at a 45-degree angle, have your key

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Cross Lighting dancer

Unveiling the drama: Using cross lighting for dramatic photos

Light is the sculptor of photography. It defines form, reveals texture, and sets the mood. But have you ever considered the power of cross-lighting? This technique, where light hits your subject from the side rather than head-on, can transform your photos from ordinary to extraordinary, injecting a dose of drama

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Top tips for photographing jewelry

The best way to photograph jewelry is with a mirrorless or DSLR camera and a macro lens. You’ll need a tripod to avoid camera shake and to free your hands up. Also, you’ll need some studio lighting to make sure your jewelry is lit evenly and consistently. Set your camera to

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Audrey Hepburn inspired portraits

How to achieve dramatic and cinematic lighting in your photos

Hollywood lighting is famous for its dramatic and cinematic effects. It has become a signature style of films and TV shows, making them more visually appealing and engaging. Recreating Hollywood lighting may seem like a daunting task, but with some basic knowledge and the right equipment, it’s possible to achieve

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