1
Perceptual Cause and Effect
Lighting creates the 2D pattern of contrast the brain interprets to recognize 3D objects in photographs. In an in-person viewing experience, the brain relies on stereoscopic vision, parallax, shifting focal in addition to the clues created by the highlight and shadow patterns the light on the object creates. When viewing a photo, the brain tries to match the patterns of contrast and color it has seen to those other sensory memories.
«The baseline for what seems "normal" in lighting is the direction and character of natural and artificial sources and the context provided by other clues»
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
2
The Natural Light Baseline
To differentiate that role from that of "key" modeling when a modeling source moves behind the object, it is typically called a "rim" or "accent" light. In portrait lighting, it is also called a "hair" light because it is used to create the appearance of physical separation between the subject's head and background.
When a photographer puts the sun behind an object, its role in the lighting strategy changes from modeling the front of the object to one of defining its outline and creating the impression of physical separation and 3D space a frontally illuminated scene lacks.
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
1818 Magazine by Stephanie Toole
To differentiate that role from that of "key" modeling when a modeling source moves behind the object, it is typically called a "rim" or "accent" light. In portrait lighting, it also called a "hair" light because it is used to create the appearance of physical separation between the subject's head and background.
3
Creating Natural Looking Artificial Lighting
