The lady in light and shadow

Priya Bhagra - Light and Shadow

Priya Bhagra – Light and Shadow

“When you look at the dark side, careful you must be. For the dark side looks back.”
Yoda in Star Wars

I tried to create the light & shadow portrait which gives a perspective of the clean and dark side of a person. Thanks Priya, for patiently waiting while I adjusted the lights every few mins and clicked away. Your pose was brilliant and could not have been more spectacular.

For those who want to recreate this, its very simple, please follow steps below.

Requirements: 1-3 table lamps, camera

Room: Make the room dark by closing doors, windows, curtains etc. You don’t need to make it pitch-dark. But dark enough that it contrasts well against the light from the table lamps.

Subject: Position the model/subject against a wall. This will give the background some texture too, otherwise you can avoid a wall and create a totally black background by positioning the subject/object in the center of the room (basically with enough distance away from the wall).

Lights: Use table lamps on one side of the subject and adjust the light that falls on the subject, I used 2 table lamps one which pointed light upwards from below, and one which points downwards from top which ensures there are less shadows on the bright side of the face (otherwise you will get some shadows on that too). Although this will cause less shadows on the side of the face you want dark.

Camera: And click! I used canon 100mm L series lens, at ISO 800, f/2.8 and 1/80 sec to capture this. Don’t use flash with this of-course!

19 thoughts on “The lady in light and shadow

  1. Anurag…once again you’ve done it…amazing out of this world photography. and hats of to the model too for the stunning look !!! Keep up the good work Anurag!!! Cheers!!!

  2. Anurag have heard a lot from Priya about your Super Photography but Our model Priya Bhagra has posed so well that it seems she is a professional model.

    Out of the world Priya . Stunning

  3. Really a beautiful pic :) U actually shud try modelling ma’am… Anurag pic is simply awesome and amazing. Priya ma’am looks most beautiful in ur pics and obviously the entire credit is to u only :)

  4. Hi Neha,
    Thanks for your comments. Credit also goes to Priya who was spectacular!
    Cheers Anurag

  5. As they say , “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” and thats what Priya looks just in this potrait . A true celeb in every way . Her attitude whose biggest fan Iam is clearly visible in this potrait . Thumbs up Hats off Priya . This pic says it all .

    Anurag for you can i only say , ” Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” and in this potrait Priya’s beauty has been captured in the best of frames ….You Rock man !

  6. Priya what a stunning photograph, simply awesome.

    Anurag as usual amazing work, capturing the dark side….. Brilliant…

  7. Amazing.. i love your blog! and the best part of it is that you give EXIF details. will surely try this light and shadow technique! :) Keep posting more :)

  8. Thanks Louanna. I picked up the idea of showing EXIF data from photography books I have enjoyed reading over the years. Email me the snap once you have clicked it.
    Cheers Anurag

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