192 MAKING PORTRAITS
wide range of colors. By using them and a white background, photographers
can reduce the number of dierent colored backgrounds that they need
to keep around the studio. Several background lights with lters of dier-
ent colors can create color combinations impossible with colored seamless
paper and white lights.
e diagram in Figure 8.19 also shows one common background light
position. e light is placed on the oor and aimed up to lighten the back-
ground. is arrangement works well for a head-and-shoulders portrait.
Hiding the background light behind the subject is more dicult in a full-
length portrait.
Furthermore, lighting the background uniformly, instead of a bright center
spot, is almost impossible with the ...