Read Lights, Camera... Nude!: A Guide to Lighting the Female Nude for Photography for Free Online Page B

and ground. Just as in the studio, light outdoors bounces off many surfaces. On a cloudy day, the fill light is more pronounced, and the sun more diffused, lowering contrast.
     

 
     

Submerged Nude
    Lighting Setup# 18 Category: Outdoor Skill: Moderate Light Kit:2 Heads:2 Model Zone: Medium
     
    Photo 65: Submerged nude
     
    Model: Sarah H.
     
     
     
    Lighting Diagram 18: Submerged nude
     
    Model: Sarah H.
     
     
     
    In this shot, water from a running hose and a bit of rain provide ripples in the pool in which the model poses.
     
    Light # 1: An umbrella creates a round reflection in the water, also visible is the light bouncing off the white wall behind the umbrella, squared off by the outline of a doorway. This can be eliminated by hanging black fabric on the wall.
     
    Light # 2: A gridded strobe head adds some punch to the model’s face and torso.
     
    Light # 3: Overcast sky provides fill light, about 2 stops less than full exposure.
     
    Three characteristics make water shots distinct:
     
    Translucence is simply the property of water that allows you to see through it.
     
    Reflection causes you to not see through the water, but the light source when the camera angle is the same as the angle of the light coming from the other direction.
     
    Refraction causes the appearance that the right leg is larger than the left. Refraction can add interest or distraction to a submerged nude.
     

Continuous Light
     
    The preceding lighting diagrams mainly show how to use studio strobes (flashes). Strobes are the preferred by nude photographers because the powerful, on-demand output makes easily stops most motion and achieve desired depth of field. However, you can photograph nudes with continuous light that suits your budget.
     
    The main advantage of continuous light, especially to those who are beginning or expanding their nude photography skills, is that what you see is what you get. Disadvantages include difficulty in color balancing and excessive heat.
     
    In the photo below, the only illumination was two strands of rope lights. The exposure was 10 seconds at f 3.5. Although the low level of monochromatic illumination in this example is impractical for many poses, it evokes a range of possibilities available with continuous light of various intensities.
     

     
    Photo 66: Continuous light
     
    Models: Stephanie S., Alicia J.
     

Lighting Exercises
     
    This assortment of exercises provides a guided path for learning through exploration and experimentation with lighting. Each exercise should take about 20 minutes to perform, not including setup. Analyze the images on your camera’s screen as you go, but don’t forget to examine them closely on your PC afterwards.
     
Body Cropping
    1. Attach a long fixed lens, or a zoom lens that has a long focal length. Choose a lighting setup that interests you and begin photographing cropped images of your model. Shoot approximately 6 to 12 inches of the model at a time.
     
    2. Check out the lighting of each shot. Is your lighting effective and interesting for the whole model?
     
     
     
    Photo 67: Close-up (strawberries optional)
     
    Model: Ashley G.
     

Spinning model
    1. Choose a lighting setup that interests you.
     
    2. Have the model slowly turn as you photograph her.
     
     
     
    Model: Toni C.
     
360° Lighting Angles
    1. Place a light in front of the model and take a few shots.
     
    2. Next, move the light slightly to the side and take some shots.
     
    3. Then try 90 degrees to one side, slightly back, and all the way back; keep moving around the model until you’ve shot eight different light locations.
     
    4. Examine your shots to see how the light differs. In the backlight shots are you getting lens flair or chromatic aberration? If so, work on resolving these problems by altering the intensity or angle of the light. See the sections on chromatic aberration and lens flare in the problems & solutions section.
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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