The Source Wholesale Colour Changing Clam Light

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Focused task lighting relieves stress on your eyes, compared to relying on a single, main light in a room. You should also give some consideration to the kind of bulb you’ll use with your desk light. As I mentioned in an earlier section, clamshell lighting, when done properly results in a double catchlight. Once you’ve created the “clamshell” setup, with your lights nicely positioned in the shape of a clam, you’ll want to fine tune the strength of the lights.

You should look for one that provides enough light to see what you’re doing, but not so bright that it causes you to squint. We have a huge range of task lighting available in store and online, including the classic FORSÅ collection, LED-powered YPPERLIG table lamp, and RIGGAD, which comes with a wireless charging pad in its base. The most common clamshell lighting setup involves two lights, such as strobes or speedlights. You can get away with a light and a reflector, but this will limit your flexibility somewhat (and ideally you’ll have both a second light and a reflector on hand, so you can play around with different looks). If you’re familiar with different types of photography lighting, then you’ve probably come across another, very similar lighting setup:I like going with a second light, rather than a reflector. It’s easier to control, and doesn’t require any holding–though if you do go with a reflector, you can always have the model hold it, or an assistant of some sort. Evening Out the Second Light At this point, you’ll have a setup that’ll produce a lot of angular, intense shadows, but this isn’t what clamshell lighting is about. That’s why you need to add a reflector under your subject’s chin, or a second light, one that will push light beneath your subject and create a stunning result. You should generally start with this light at a 45-degree angle, pointing up, so that it mirrors the key light, though you’ll then be able to make adjustments depending on your subject and the shot you’ve envisioned. You’ll want this light to be in front of you (i.e., the photographer), so that your camera is able to sit just below it for a straight or raised angle. Generally, the second (fill) light should be weaker than the main (key) light. The fill light certainly shouldn’t be stronger or closer than the key light, because this would produce grotesque shadows that come from beneath the subject, like you’d find in a horror movie.

Technically, you can use clamshell lighting in most portrait situations. It works well on most subjects, and will give you images that are bright and eye-catching. You can use clamshell lighting for family portraits, for corporate headshots, for fashion shots, and much, much more. The best light for studying is natural light, but we know it’s not always possible to get everything done while the sun’s up. Enter, desk lights and LED desk lamps. First, place your main light (the key light) above and in front of your subject. A 45-degree angle is popular, though you’re free to experiment with slightly adjusted lighting positions for different effects. Note that clamshell lighting doesn’t create much in the way of shadows, which means that it’s not an especially strong lighting pattern if you’re aiming to create drama. It’s a flattering type of light, but not a moody one. In terms of light modifiers, unless you have a particularly harsh shot in mind, I’d suggest working with softboxes or beauty dishes. These will allow you to soften the light and create a more flattering result. Clamshell Lighting BasicsNote that both the key light and the second ( fill) light should now both be in front of you, the photographer–and your aim is generally to shoot the model from head-on, with a lens that pokes out from between the two light sources. Of course, you can ask the model to turn their head and strike different poses, but be careful to maintain the same shadow presence that you see from very straight clamshell lighting. You’ll need light stands (so that you can carefully position your clamshell setup), and you’ll want a flash trigger (because each flash will need to come off your camera). Butterfly lighting involves placing a light just above the subject, pointing down at an angle just like clamshell lighting. And you can also use a second light or a reflector beneath the subject, pointing upward.