lighting position

Illuminating the Abyss.
Post Reply
scubersteve
Posts: 251
Joined: Jan 28th, 2013, 10:29 pm
Location: Milton, Florida

lighting position

Post by scubersteve »

so everything I read tells me to position my lights away from and behind my camera to avoid reflection off particulates in the water.
However if the light is directional (pointing away from the camera) does it have to be behind the camera?
Wouldn't it being in front of the camera actually give more "dead space" (space in which there is no direct light only light reflected off the object to be viewed)?
Kinda like fog lights on a car. They are in front of you so they can't reflect off the fog in front of your eyes.
rov lighting.jpg
rov lighting.jpg (32.31 KiB) Viewed 5407 times
rov lighting2.jpg
rov lighting2.jpg (34.95 KiB) Viewed 5407 times
here you also get a preview of the layout I'm planning on using.
scubersteve
Posts: 251
Joined: Jan 28th, 2013, 10:29 pm
Location: Milton, Florida

Re: lighting position

Post by scubersteve »

No opinions on this matter? <><
User avatar
thegadgetguy
Posts: 238
Joined: Feb 13th, 2011, 8:27 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: lighting position

Post by thegadgetguy »

In my experience, the light doesn't need to be behind the camera. It can be behind it, or even in front of it, but the main thing to make sure of is that it is off to the side a bit. Above or below would achieve the same effect. This also seems to help with shadows - since the light is at an angle, the shadows are such that they clearly define the edges of the objects you are looking at.

Well, hope it helps with your build! Good luck.
Post Reply