Part Two A - Lighting
by Chuck Gardner
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Lighting Angles
The position of the key light relative to the camera position defines the lighting angle. Lighting angles are typically characterized one of the following five ways: flat, short, broad, back light, and butterfly.  Flat
light: The best example of flat lighting is an
on-camera flash. The single light source is near the camera
lens and there are few if any shadows to reveal the 3D
nature of the subject. This is the only one of the lighting
angles in which there is usually one light source. However a
single light source, if raised some distance from the lens,
will cast some shadows and create the illusion of depth.
For this reason professional photographers often use flash
brackets which place the flash 12 or more inches above the
lens. A single flash raised above the lens and diffused
produces the best results with a single flash.
 Short lighting: Short lighting occurs
when the key light strikes the side of a subject furthest
from the camera, and the side nearest the camera is in
shadow. This type of lighting is the most commonly used for
portraits because it puts the highlights on the front of the
face, hopefully making it the brightest part of the
photograph. The side of the face towards the camera is in
shadow, hiding the ear which otherwise would be distracting.
The height of the key light will determine how the shadow
from the nose falls. If the light is too high the subject's
brow may cast a shadow over the eyes eliminating the
highlight (i.e., "catchlight") in the iris. Take care to
avoid this because eyes without catchlights look dull and
lifeless.
 Broad lighting: Broad lighting occurs
when the key light strikes the side of a subject's face
nearest the the camera. This type of lighting is sometimes
used for portraits but since it makes the person's ear the
brightest thing in the picture and places the front of the
face in shadow there are only rare situations in which it is
preferable to short lighting. The caveats about the height
of the key light in short lighting also apply to broad
lighting.
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