Page 38 - Amateur Photographer - August 5, 2017
P. 38

Testbench   LIGHTING KIT


     Seeing the light










     Lighting your shots can be as simple

     or advanced as you like. James Abbott
     guides you through a number of
     lighting solutions – ranging from typical
     household lights to professional kits


     Creativity around the home

     It’s time to raid the cupboards and ransack the
     house because there are plenty of simple lighting
     options you probably already have at your fi ngertips
                                                 Laptop screen
     PHOTOGRAPHY is all about light – it’s what makes image
     capture possible. While any available light will allow you to   IN THE same way that a mobile-  clear plastic objects. Simply position
     take a shot, it’s taking more control over how the subject   phone screen can be used as a soft,   the plastic item in front of the laptop
     is lit that results in something special. All it takes is careful   yet weak, light source, a laptop can be   screen using Blu Tack and attach a
     consideration and a touch of ingenuity, and you can truly   used to the same ends. However, with   polarising fi lter to your lens. Rotate
     bring a subject to life. It doesn’t matter whether you’re   a larger screen you can also shoot   the fi lter until the screen turns black
     using fl ash or continuous light of some sort, because   colourful cross-polarised images of   and the clear plastic takes on
     both can be versatile tools.                                             colourful hues. It is possible to shoot
      Artifi cial light comes in many shapes and forms, and can                   cross-polarised images with a
     be controlled in a number of ways. Some of these are                             tablet or phone screen, but
     completely free, in that you most likely already                                    space is obviously
     have them at home, while others are dedicated                                         much more limited.
     photographic accessories. So with this in mind
     we’ll be looking at a range of options at
     varying price points covering beginners,
     intermediate photographers and
     professionals.





















                                Anglepoise lamp               lighting the shutter speed will be slow,

                                ONE OF the most basic lighting options   so you’ll need to mount your camera on
                                available in the home is the humble   a tripod and set white balance to auto
                                Anglepoise desk lamp. Almost everyone   to neutralise any colour cast. If you’re
                                has one, and these lights are ideal for   shooting in the day close the curtains to
                                shooting small tabletop still-life set-ups   block out as much natural light as
                                because they can be moved into a   possible, so the lamp is the main, and
                                variety of positions. With this type of   therefore controllable, source of light.

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