P#16: A Dramatic Photograph of a Family in New Mexico

Warm and Soft

This is a photo of a family in New Mexico. They're actually some very good friends of mine.

This shot was lit with one big window. You see the window that's behind them? The window that is lighting them is probably four times that size. It was a picture window, and that's pretty much the size of what it was. (click the image for a larger version)

This is in New Mexico so there's a lot of adobe everywhere. There is some light outside and there are buildings outside that are in the sunlight. The light that's on them is actually sunlight that's bounced off the adobe walls outside. That's why it's so warm. The softness is due to the large light source.

I didn't use any reflectors in here, so you see that the shadows are going dark. That's what I wanted because I wanted to add a little bit of drama to this picture.

I have to tell you that I'm absolutely amazed that I actually got the dog and the cat to all look at me at the same time that the three humans did.

Audri Lanford: That is pretty impressive.

Bobbi Lane: If you look closely at the cat, the cat has a Rembrandt light, with the little triangle of light underneath the cat's eye. You can see that everybody's lighting is just a little bit different. They all took the light in a different way, including the dog and the cat.

In Conclusion

Lighting is one of the biggest factors to consider when creating the mood of your shots. The right lighting gave this picture of a family in New Mexico a warm, dramatic feeling - cat and dog included!