Photography Portrait Photography Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What role does a 'fill light' play in a portrait lighting setup?
- It serves as the brightest primary light source
- It creates a glowing rim around the subject's hair
- It reduces shadows cast by the main (key) light (Correct answer)
- It lights the background separately from the subject
Correct answer: It reduces shadows cast by the main (key) light
Fill light is positioned opposite the key light to soften and control the depth of shadows without eliminating them entirely.
Question 2: Which camera mode gives a portrait photographer the most direct control over depth of field?
- Full Auto
- Program (P)
- Shutter Priority (Tv/S)
- Aperture Priority (Av/A) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Aperture Priority (Av/A)
Aperture Priority mode lets the photographer set the exact aperture while the camera automatically selects the corresponding shutter speed for correct exposure.
Question 3: What is a 'beauty dish' light modifier designed to produce?
- Very harsh, high-contrast shadows
- Soft, directional light with a slight wrap and crisp specular highlights (Correct answer)
- Completely shadowless flat light
- A circular rainbow lens flare
Correct answer: Soft, directional light with a slight wrap and crisp specular highlights
A beauty dish creates a flattering light quality—softer than bare flash but more defined than a large softbox—making it popular for beauty and fashion portraits.
Question 4: What does a 'hair light' accomplish in a portrait lighting setup?
- Softens the shadows on the subject's face
- Acts as the primary key light from above
- Separates the subject's hair from the background (Correct answer)
- Provides fill on the shadow side of the face
Correct answer: Separates the subject's hair from the background
A hair light, placed above and behind the subject, adds a rim of light to the hair that prevents it from merging with a dark background.
Question 5: What is the purpose of using a gold reflector when photographing portraits outdoors?
- To reduce unwanted shadows
- To add a warm, sun-kissed glow to skin tones (Correct answer)
- To increase depth of field
- To block harsh direct sunlight
Correct answer: To add a warm, sun-kissed glow to skin tones
A gold reflector bounces warm, golden-toned light onto the subject, simulating the warmth of late-afternoon sunlight and enhancing skin tones.
Question 6: In portrait photography, what is the 'butterfly lighting' pattern named after?
- The wing-like shape of the softbox used
- The butterfly-shaped shadow that forms under the subject's nose (Correct answer)
- The way the lights are arranged on either side of the camera
- The spread pattern of the barn doors
Correct answer: The butterfly-shaped shadow that forms under the subject's nose
Butterfly lighting places the main light directly in front of and above the subject, creating a small shadow below the nose that resembles a butterfly.
Photography Portrait Photography Techniques 2
What role does a 'fill light' play in a portrait lighting setup?