Types of lighting position

There are different ways to position your main light. This section will explore the basic positioning of the light and some examples that each will achieve.

Frontlight
Basically frontlight means the light that will light up the subject in front of you. Frontlight has the ability to illuminate evenly your subject and it is considered one of the easiest kinds of lighting to work with. It can make your portraits flattering and enhance the beauty of the landscape and cityscape composition.

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Overhead lighting
Overhead light provides illumination almost directly above the objects. It can produce a clean and attractive tonal contrast between the subject (highlights above, shadows below) and the background (light below, dark above).


Image by leprechaun947


Sidelight /Rim lighting
If you want to add depth and shadow, you should use side light to help you to achieve it. Side light is place at the sides of the subject to create a three dimensional effects. When the side light is being moved back, it can be turned into rim light. This technique is quite effective if the edge or rim of the subject is shot against a dark background.


Image by picsynel


Image by Maggie's World
Backlight
Backlight means the light is at the back of the subject and hit the front of the photographer. When encountering this lighting, there are two ways where you can shoot: Either you can meter the underexposed area and get a overexposed background and properly exposed foreground (usually in portrait) or meter for the overexposed area to get a properly exposed background and underexposed foreground (silhouette).


Image by Enzo D.