Photographic lighting - introduction

In April 2010, I attended a two day studio photography workshop for OCA students at City and Islington College. Richard Maxted, a professional photographer led the course. His web gallery includes stunning images of everyday objects as well as a range of commercial advertising images.

The workshop program was as follows:-

Session 1: Group session - a shiny object

Session 2: Team session - shiny objects

Session 3: Group session - contrejour lighting

Session 4: Team session - lighting of form

In the group sessions, Richard used a large format Linhof tilt and shift camera with a leaf digital back, tethered to a laptop. The college studio was equipped with professional studio equipment in particular mains flash, screens, diffusors, reflectors. In the team sessions, three students worked together using Nikon D300 SLR cameras to photograph similar subjects using this equipment.

In the workshop, I took photographs using the techniques covered in the TAOP exercises "Softening the light", "The lighting angle", "Contrast and shadow fill" and "Shiny surfaces". I have written up these exercises using the photographs and experience from the workshop.