Photography & Cameras

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• AAdorama2026-10-13Video✓ Read

  Stop Guessing with Main Light Placement: Choose It with Intention with Lindsay Adler

  Where you put your main light is one of the most important decisions in a studio portrait. It sets the entire mood of the image! But how do you decide what's right for your light placement? Anyone who claims there is one correct answer is over simplifying it and too formulaic! I learned early on that the 45 degree rule is a decent starting point, but it doesn't give you intention or real control. In this video I walk you through the framework I use to decide main light placement on every shoot: the questions I ask myself about mood, texture, face shape, distance, and the role the light needs to play in the scene. You'll learn how shadows control drama, how raising the light sculpts the face (while you have to also watch for catchlights), and how distance changes both softness and contrast through the inverse square law. Don't feel confined by a lighting diagram. Sure, its a great place to start but make changes based upon your actual needs and what you want to create! We’ll cover: • How to define the mood of your image first and THEN decide the right light placement • Using light height to sculpt cheekbones and jawline while managing catchlights • The effect of distance on softness, falloff, and contrast through the inverse square law • Why fill light and main light placement always work together • How to adapt your setup when the main light also needs to light the background or bounce into a reflector If you're new to studio lighting, my class Master Studio Lighting (https://lindsayadler.photo/msl) walks you from the fundamentals of exposure and modifiers through this exact decision-making framework. SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY: ➥ https://www.youtube.com/user/adoramaTV __________________________________ Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! https://www.adorama.com/MyAccount/Login 🔷 Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: htt

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• AAdorama2026-10-12Video✓ Read

  Create Dramatic Black & White Portraits In-Camera with Gary Hughes

  In this episode of Adorama TV, photographer Gary Hughes demonstrates how to create dramatic black-and-white portraits using lighting, reflections, and motion effects captured right in-camera. Starting with a basic test shot, Gary builds the finished image one deliberate decision at a time. He explains how he measured his lighting, selected wardrobe and background colors specifically for black and white, and kept his subject’s face as the visual focus of the portrait. Then it’s time to experiment. Using an inexpensive sheet of Mylar, constant LED lights, a reflector, moving fabric, a fan, and a slow shutter, Gary creates warped reflections and haunting motion effects without compositing them afterward. You’ll learn how to: • Plan and light a dramatic low-key portrait • Measure and control a two-stop lighting difference • Choose colors intentionally for black-and-white conversion • Use a monochrome preview while retaining the flexibility of a RAW file • Create unusual reflections with Mylar • Control unwanted reflected light with a simple flag • Add motion with fabric, a fan, and a slow shutter • Move the reflective surface during a long exposure • Turn one carefully planned setup into a variety of finished portraits The creative effects shown in these images were captured in-camera, Watch Gavin Hoey's mylar video here: https://youtu.be/uc13CHJfHRM?si=eF6RWue68PMfbo2k SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY: ➥ https://www.youtube.com/user/adoramaTV __________________________________ Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! https://www.adorama.com/MyAccount/Login 🔷 Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: https://www.adorama.com/g/adorama-credit. __________________________________ ✘ SHOP THE GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO: Fujifilm GFX 100S II Medium Format Mirrorless Camera https://www.adorama.com/fujifilm-gfx-100s-ii-102-mp-mirrorless-camera/p/ifjgf

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