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Description
All of us entering the imaging world quickly hear of and learn its three most important elements: lighting, lighting, lighting. Coincidentally, the best way to start out is with the classic 3-point lighting rig and do so for at least the first 100 images. Its subtleties and nuances won't become apparent until then.

But even the most casual browse throughout dA will reveal the pervasive influence of what I call, Promotional lighting. It is, after all, the first example of lighting we're exposed to when purchasing the items needed to shine lights on. Promotional lighting, however, serves very well a purpose few of us will use: selling a product. It is incumbent upon vendors to illuminate their wares to the greatest extent possible (make them 'pop' is the popular jargon) which will all but eliminate what I consider an essential component of lighting, lighting, lighting: shadow.

And so, if you are at all interested in Promotional lighting's opposite, which I call Character lighting, then your direction should be away from the intense lighting created by 5, 7, and even 9-point lighting rigs which do have their places.

Note that Character lighting is not the same as Scene lighting. Someone bathing poolside at high noon is going to be very brightly lit. Even so, if the background structures and props are not producing some type of shadow then the lighting is wrong.

In the above image, just two lights illuminate Antonia. My experience shows that one light will almost invariably serve the function of a Fill. The other will have the dual role of a Key and Rim. The duality of this rig is flexible. Because of Rim lighting's ability to produce very dramatic effects, the other light will then take on the role of both Fill and Key. Depending on the pose and POV, this rig can become a pure 2-point system and eliminate the Key altogether. Note further, that the two lights can be anything: Points, Floods, Dramatics, Distants, Emissives, and yes, Spots. Or whatever combination suits your goal.

Is a 1-point rig possible? Absolutely. But only when the goal is for a very dramatic effect because the character will be just partially illuminated with everything else in deep shadow. In fact, the functionality of each light in a 3-Point Rig can be represented in a one light scenario. Clever posing and POV angling can add another such as Rim/Fill and Key/Fill. Below, is a link to my Stash of an image in which I used one light as Keys in two places in the same image. The foreground is an Emissive and the background is a Spot with its Spread Angle greatly narrowed.

sta.sh/01w1gzo7gpax

Finally, 2 and 1-point rigs need not eliminate the use of a background unless it's a plain wall which begs the question, to what purpose? Care should be taken to merely hint at the background with very low lighting.

These are solely my opinions and experiences and I've got my fingers crossed others will add theirs so we all can learn. 😊

Description
All of us entering the imaging world quickly hear of and learn its three most important elements: lighting, lighting, lighting. Coincidentally, the best way to start out is with the classic 3-point lighting rig and do so for at least the first 100 images. Its subtleties and nuances won't become apparent until then.

But even the most casual browse throughout dA will reveal the pervasive influence of what I call, Promotional lighting. It is, after all, the first example of lighting we're exposed to when purchasing the items needed to shine lights on. Promotional lighting, however, serves very well a purpose few of us will use: selling a product. It is incumbent upon vendors to illuminate their wares to the greatest extent possible (make them 'pop' is the popular jargon) which will all but eliminate what I consider an essential component of lighting, lighting, lighting: shadow.

And so, if you are at all interested in Promotional lighting's opposite, which I call Character lighting, then your direction should be away from the intense lighting created by 5, 7, and even 9-point lighting rigs which do have their places.

Note that Character lighting is not the same as Scene lighting. Someone bathing poolside at high noon is going to be very brightly lit. Even so, if the background structures and props are not producing some type of shadow then the lighting is wrong.

In the above image, just two lights illuminate Antonia. My experience shows that one light will almost invariably serve the function of a Fill. The other will have the dual role of a Key and Rim. The duality of this rig is flexible. Because of Rim lighting's ability to produce very dramatic effects, the other light will then take on the role of both Fill and Key. Depending on the pose and POV, this rig can become a pure 2-point system and eliminate the Key altogether. Note further, that the two lights can be anything: Points, Floods, Dramatics, Distants, Emissives, and yes, Spots. Or whatever combination suits your goal.

Is a 1-point rig possible? Absolutely. But only when the goal is for a very dramatic effect because the character will be just partially illuminated with everything else in deep shadow. In fact, the functionality of each light in a 3-Point Rig can be represented in a one light scenario. Clever posing and POV angling can add another such as Rim/Fill and Key/Fill. Below, is a link to my Stash of an image in which I used one light as Keys in two places in the same image. The foreground is an Emissive and the background is a Spot with its Spread Angle greatly narrowed.

sta.sh/01w1gzo7gpax

Finally, 2 and 1-point rigs need not eliminate the use of a background unless it's a plain wall which begs the question, to what purpose? Care should be taken to merely hint at the background with very low lighting.

These are solely my opinions and experiences and I've got my fingers crossed others will add theirs so we all can learn. 😊