Portrait Lighting Styles -Split Lighting

The latest in my series of portrait lighting techniques. You’ve got me again (un retouched). This shot is straight out of camera. It’s in black and white so you can see the light pattern more clearly.

Split lighting is really what it says on the tin. Half the face is lit, the other half isn’t. It’s often used to create dramatic images of people like artists and musicians.

I placed one light directly to the side of me as you can see by the catchlight from the light source in my right eye. I could have lifted the shadows on the opposite side of my face by using a reflector or a second light on less power but I just wanted to show you more of the contrast of this type of lighting.   

Camera settings were 200 ISO, f8 at 1/125 second with the power of the light metered to suit.

If you’d like any free advice with indoor photography (given that this is where most of us are spending most of our time at the moment) do get in touch; I’d be happy to help.

Antony