Week 5 Session: Find the Light Walk

Move one subject through difficult, front, back, side-back and artificial light, then compare what changed before any editing.

SLOP1810WEEK 0522 March 2027

Before the session#

Bring a phone or camera. No flash is required. Find one nearby area with direct light, open shade and a building edge or tree that can block the source. Also identify a window, doorway, illuminated display or portable continuous light for the artificial-light test.

In the session#

1. Begin with the difficult version#

Make one portrait in hard overhead light. Record what happens under the eyes, nose and chin and whether the subject needs to squint.

2. Move, do not edit#

Without changing the subject’s clothing or expression, make versions in open shade, soft front light, backlight and side-back light. For the backlit frame, use a building, tree or sign to hide the brightest part of the source.

3. Rotate in small steps#

At the best location, rotate the subject slowly while watching the eyes and nose shadow. Stop at three positions and compare the facial shape.

4. Find a night-style source#

Use a window, display, doorway or small LED to illuminate the face. Begin with one dominant source and avoid adding flash only because the background is dark.

Afterwards#

Submit a six-frame light map. For each frame, label the source direction, hardness and the effect on the face. The subject selects the preferred frame and explains the visible reason.

End with one location rule written as an action—for example, “move her to the edge of the building shade and turn her toward the open sky”—rather than a vague description such as “find better light”.