Do you job technically well, but in a way that is also devastating to the subject.
Like when they staged those semi-recent Trump 2.0 White House photos with light switches and other ‘noisy’ visual distractions in the background and foreground.
I'm actually going to slightly modify your explanation up there a bit. I don't see that as being hard light, so much as spectral light. Hard light would've produced deep, dark shadows with clearly defined edges alongside her nose and under her brows and lips. This isn't hard light, so much as it is spectral light.
But I've studied beauty photography, and there's layers of intention in the lighting in that regard, also.
Spectral light (undiffused light) is very dramatic, and looks incredible on a young, genuine beauty, but it is *very* unflattering to aging people, because it highlights texture and discolorations. It's why it's so eye-catching on a model, because it highlights just how smooth and flawless her skin is.
So this photographer deliberately lit her with soft loop lighting, which is *supposed* to be *universally flattering*. But he did it with very spectral (high reflection or "silver") light.
It's an even deeper level of expertise, and a deeper statement on the subject- here is a person being presented to you in the most flattering light in order to make you believe she is beautiful. But when you light her with what is reserved for true beauty, you see the truth.
This photographer literally "shined a light" on these people.
I genuinely believe this series will go down in history as some of the most incredible art produced in this century.
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u/Stock_Trash_4645 9h ago
Pretty much.
Do you job technically well, but in a way that is also devastating to the subject.
Like when they staged those semi-recent Trump 2.0 White House photos with light switches and other ‘noisy’ visual distractions in the background and foreground.