There are many different lighting techniques that can help to provide a specific look or mood to a photo.

Rembrandt is one of the basic lighting techniques. Based on the lighting techniques of Dutch painter Rembrandt, the artificial light is pointed at the face of the model at a 45-degree angle. This causes a small triangle of the face under the eye to become illuminated to create an intense or dramatic effect.

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Another technique is split lighting, involving positioning the light source at a 90-degree angle to either side of the models face. This causes one side of the face to de shaded in darkness. Although to create a softer area of shade on the face, the light should be aimed from the side onto the nose, not the cheek.

(Photo belonging to democraciaejustica.org)

The third basic lighting technique is the butterfly lighting; where in the light source is located above the camera, directed down onto the subject. This creates a shadow under the nose and cheekbones making them more prominent.

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