Lighting the Human Face

Stunning Photos Reveal How Lighting Can Vastly Change Our Perception of the Human Face

What do you notice about how the angle of lighting affects the human face? What does the lighting do the ladies face at those angles? How could you start using lighting angles intentionally in your future productions?

    Some of the effects that the angle of light has on the face are a drastic change in mood and depth between the images. The first images are considerably brighter and appear flatter, with no shadows on the faces, whereas the second images cast the face heavily in shadow. The darker image conveys a more somber or eerie mood compared to the brighter ones. When I pause the video at 0:23, the lighting causes her face to be lit from underneath, creating a more unnatural look as the shadows are being cast upwards. I could start using these lighting angles intentionally in my future films by considering the effects that these different looks have on the audience and scene.