SCENARIO 32

Rim Lighting

Rim lights are great for giving your photo that little extra umph.

GEAR NEEDED:

  • Camera + Trigger
  • Lens of any focal length
  • Off-camera flash
  • Light stand (optional)
  • Colored gels (optional)

GOAL IMAGE

Rim lighting your subjects is a great way to separate them from the background. Often I notice my subject’s hair or outfit blending right in, and the viewer can’t tell where they end and the background begins. Rim lighting solves that problem and can make your photo stand out in a way that enhances the natural light in the scene (Figure 32.1).

Try this out on any given shoot. It works fairly universally no matter what lens you’re using or scene you have. The biggest pain with this technique is hiding your light and light ...

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