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I've seen the term "dark field lighting" a few times and was wondering why its used and how you do it?

An example (by one of our members no less) http://www.flickr.com/photos/spqr_ca/5362714988/.

Edit: My go at it, based on the answer (thanks!):

alt text

rfusca
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  • By the way, I commented on Flickr that I'm pleased and flattered that your daughter liked the shot. That seriously makes my day. – Joanne C Jan 23 '11 at 03:02

1 Answers1

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Well, since you used my shot as an example, I suppose I should answer... ;)

Dark field lighting is about lighting glass, a subect that is both highly transparent and highly reflective. The idea is to catch the edges of the glass, creating form and definition without dominating highlights. To do that, you need:

  1. Light source
  2. Black Gobo
  3. 2 white reflectors

Now, you can do all of that with a table lamp, a black bristol board, and two white bristol boards. The idea is that you set the light up behind the black board or gobo and place the white reflectors forward and to either side. Like so:

alt text

Excuse my quick and dirty CorelDraw example... With this set up, basically, the light reflects off the white sides and defines the glass edges while the black card prevents direct light through the glass.

For a lot more information, on this and a whole host of other lighting techniques, check out Light: Science and Magic in any book store you can get it in. It's probably one of the best books on lighting you can get and is my source for this technique.

Joanne C
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    It doesn't really matter where you place your light source, the key is having two, evenly lit, white light sources (reflected or direct) on the sides. – Jędrek Kostecki Jan 23 '11 at 02:55
  • @Jędrek Kostecki - True, I'm just presenting the "book" definition here as it is the simplest and quickest means to the effect. – Joanne C Jan 23 '11 at 03:00
  • I've got to get that book... I really need to learn more about lighting... Hmmm... – PearsonArtPhoto Jan 23 '11 at 03:08
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    @Pearsonartphoto - I can't say enough good things about it. Worth the price, in my opinion. – Joanne C Jan 23 '11 at 03:22
  • It actually seems like you'd get a darker black if you used something like two softboxes and had a long distance to your background. – Evan Krall Jan 23 '11 at 03:41
  • @Evan Krall - The shot posted was done with this setup, using a single softbox, it's pretty black. I'm not sure how you get it more black than that and I had flames in the shot to boot! In any case, regardless of alternative means of getting the shot (and I'm more than open to examples of such), this is the technique of dark field lighting that rfusca asked about since I can state categorically how it was done. :) – Joanne C Jan 23 '11 at 03:56
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    So, its just lighting from the bounce off the reflected spill? – rfusca Jan 23 '11 at 04:26
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    @rfusca - Yep, that's all that it is. Simple, really, once you know. – Joanne C Jan 23 '11 at 13:48