In most cases you will not want to have the subject facing straight on to the camera. But, sometimes you DO! Using a "split light" pattern can help. Here is how…
In a prior photo tip article,
we started talking about lighting patterns in portrait photography. Today we'll continue our lighting patterns discussion with "split lighting!" This photo lighting pattern tends to go against most of our portrait photography posing "rules."
We began our lighting patterns discussion by talking about "broad lighting" and "short lighting." While they technically are lighting patterns, we can think of them more as stylistic approaches to be used on top of our additional patterns.
In other words, decide on whether you want a broad or short lighting "style", then decide on your lighting pattern designed to make the face look its best.
That said, let's toss both of them (and one of our basic posing rules) out the window and talk about split lighting.
As we've covered in previous articles, when posing a person for portrait photography, you don't usually want their face to be straight on to the camera. It tends to make it look wider and fatter - particularly if you are using a flat light and evenly lighting both sides of the face. (An on camera flash.)
In most cases, the ideal is to have the face turned about three-quarters to the side.
Note: I said in most cases. Sometimes you will want to break this rule and have the subject looking directly into the camera which - makes both sides of the face equidistant to the camera! There is no side closer or further away - which is what defines short and broad lighting!
Done well, this can be a very dramatic pose and in some cases it is the best option. We can use our lighting pattern, "split light" to put one side of the face in shadow to eliminate the widening and fattening effect.
To the viewer, a shadow visually recedes in the portrait while highlights come forward. Even though both sides are equidistant away, it appears that the brighter side is closer. So it actually does add a bit of 3D depth.
Split lighting is a very easy lighting pattern to do. To create this lighting pattern, just have the light source at 90 degrees to the side of the subject. This will light the side of the face closest to the light and put the other side in shadow.
Ideally when seen from the camera, the face should be "split" exactly in half.
Caution, one of the most vital elements in any portrait photo, whether it is human, animal, reptile, bird or WHATEVER, you need a catch light in BOTH eyes!
In split light, obviously you are going to get a catch light on the brighter side, but if the light is positioned incorrectly you will not get a catch light on the shadowed side. You must have one - period.
The ideal split light pattern has half of the face in highlight - half in shadow - and both eyes have a catch light.
Set the light at ninety degrees to the subject to get the split (in a few instances, you may need to move the light slightly behind the subject to get the half and half split), if there is a catch light in both eyes - fine. If not, inch the light forward until there is!
From time to time, the shape of a subject's face will not allow an exact split with a catch light in both eyes. In this case find another lighting pattern, don't skip the catch light.
While using a "split light" portrait photography lighting pattern goes against most posing rules, there are times when it is the perfect choice. Grab your camera and practice this photo tip and add another photo lighting pattern to your arsenal!
