Short Studio Assignment 1 Dark Field Lighting

For this assignment we had to look at a lighting technique called dark field lighting, we where asked to create our own work using this style of lighting.

Dark field lighting is basically a studio lighting technique that is mainly used on things such as glass and reflective objects. It is often used to emphasize the shape of an object by illuminating the sides. Dark field lighting is a low key lighting technique and therefore dark backgrounds are used. There are a few different dark field lighting methods but my favorite is to use a soft box at each side of the object both facing in at the object in order to illuminate the sides creating white catch lights.  Another method is too used a large soft box behind the object and use a black piece of card behind the subject to block out the majority of the main light and gives you a black background the black card is smaller than the soft box though so light bleeds around onto the edges of the subject giving the same affect as previously mentioned.

 Final Image

I am pleased with this lighting as it emphasizes the shape and keeps a constant catch light going down both sides. I didn't want to use a glass because it didn't interest me i thought a prop with a label would be look more interesting. I think this image demonstrates dark field lighting well. This technique is use full especially for product photography and if i do any type of this photography in the future shall use this technique.