Studio Lighting Setups Flashcards
7 cards from real Photography practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Studio Lighting Setups flashcards as text
What is the inverse square law's practical implication for studio lighting?
Answer: Doubling the distance from the light to the subject quarters the light intensity
The inverse square law states that light intensity falls off proportionally to the square of the distance, so doubling the subject-to-light distance reduces the light reaching the subject to one quarter.
When using colored gels on background lights in a studio, what is the best practice to prevent the gel color from contaminating the subject?
Answer: Place a gobo or flag between the background light and the subject
Placing a gobo or black flag between the gelled background light and the subject physically blocks spill from the colored light, preventing unwanted color contamination on the subject.
What is the primary difference between a monolight and a pack-and-head studio strobe system?
Answer: Monolights have the power supply built into the head, while pack-and-head systems use a separate external power pack
A monolight integrates the power supply, controls, and flash head into a single self-contained unit, while a pack-and-head system uses a separate power pack connected to one or more flash heads.
What is 'painting with light' in a studio context?
Answer: Using a moving continuous light source during a long exposure to illuminate different parts of the scene
Painting with light involves using a handheld continuous light source—such as a flashlight or LED panel—and moving it across a subject during a long exposure to selectively illuminate areas.
In split lighting for portraits, how is the key light positioned relative to the subject's face?
Answer: To the side at a 90-degree angle, illuminating exactly half the face
Split lighting positions the key light 90 degrees to the side of the subject so that exactly half the face is illuminated and the other half falls into shadow, creating a dramatic, high-contrast look.
What is the role of the 'kicker' light in a studio portrait setup?
Answer: To add a highlight along the subject's side or back for separation and dimension
A kicker is a light placed behind and to the side of the subject, adding a rim highlight along the edge of the face, neck, or shoulder to enhance separation from the background and add dimension.
When photographing a highly reflective product like a wristwatch in a studio, which technique best controls unwanted reflections on the surface?
Answer: Use a tent or enclosure of diffusion material surrounding the product
A light tent or enclosure made of white diffusion material wraps the product in an even, near-shadowless light source from all sides, eliminating specular hotspots and unwanted reflections on shiny surfaces.