stead, I will tell you the relationship of each light to the output of the main light. The output of the main light varies based on the aperture I want to use, and this is determined by the lens I am using and how soft I want to make the background. There are bold backgrounds that I typically soften, so I may shoot at an aperture of f/4. Other backgrounds, with a softer texture or design, I may want to shoot at f/11. By discussing the relationship of the other lights to this main-light reading, I hope to give you the flexibility you need to make these main-light choices yourself, then fill in the blanks (working in relation to that main-light setting) to achieve the effect you are looking for. Auxiliary Lights
The auxiliary lights are light sources other than the main and fill lights. In this section, we’ll look at what I consider to be the minimal selections for creating a salable portrait in each situation. Low-Key Setups. Background Light. In a low-key (darker background) lighting area, the most important auxiliary light is the background light. The output of this light should be determined according to the light output of the main and fill lights metered together. With the background light set at the same exposure as the main and fill light, the background will pretty much record as it looks to your eye under normal room lights. To lighten or darken the background, you simply adjust the background light accordingly. On my background light, I use the simple parabolic reflector that comes with the light. The placement of the light will determine if the light is even (directed at the background from the subject’s shoulder height) or has a gradient effect (light that skims across the background at an angle).
38 JEFF SMITH’S GUIDE TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
In these photos, you can see how you can direct the viewer’s eye to or away from a certain area of a client’s body. With the background light low, it draws the eye to the hips and thighs, which is good for some but not for most. As the background light is elevated, the eye is drawn to the waistline. Finally, with the background light at shoulder height, the focus is the area of the shoulders and head, with the body blending into the background.