Fun with shop lights

I found a post on the Strobist website discussing glamor lighting techniques. Since the class I was teaching this week was dealing with lighting, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try it out.

Julie was photographed using two fluorescent work lights placed on either side of her. It was a neat glamor light technique that really highlighted her eyes, don't you think?

Valerie was photographed using the same two lights, but placed to the camera's right. It made a big, soft light source for some neat directional light.

Marianna was photographed with the same setup, but I moved to one side to shoot against the light, which was creating a nice, soft profile light. I was pretty pleased, and the class was impressed!


The last subject was Alicia, who was photographed using two tungsten lights that Valerie brought along. They were two reflectors that could clamp to lightstands, or furniture, doors, etc. I set them up at 45 degree angles for a few shots, and then decided to try to cross light her, using one light at camera right and at left in the background pointing at the camera. It made a great accent light that created a rim of light on the right side of Alicia's face.

It was an excellent and eye-opening experience that showed just what you could do with some inexpensive lights and some attention to detail.