Different Lighting setups

Rembrandt

Rembrandt lighting is a lighting technique that is used in studio portrait photography. It can be achieved using one light and a reflector, or two lights, and is popular because it is capable of producing images which appear both natural and compelling with a minimum of equipment. Rembrandt lighting is characterized by an illuminated triangle under the eye of the subject on the less illuminated side of the face. It is named for the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who often used this type of lighting. like the use of split lighting it can be used to create a softer chiaroscuro effect making the subject look mysterious.

Split 

Split lighting involves “splitting” the face into two proportional halves, with one side being in the shadow and the other side being in the light. It can be done with a single light source, which makes it easy and inexpensive to execute even for beginners.

Split lighting can be used for  a variety of purposes as: 

-Achieving a dramatic effect in portraits

-Fashion photography
-Commercial photography
-Adding variety to a set of themed portrait photos
-Making a broad face look slimmer

Butterfly

Butterfly lighting is a portrait lighting pattern where the key light is placed above and directly centered with a subject's face. This creates a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly. It's also known as 'Paramount lighting,' named for classic Hollywood glamour photography. It is most often used for glamour style shots and to create shadows under the cheeks and chin. It is also flattering for older subjects as it emphasizes wrinkles less than side lighting.

High Key Lighting

High key lighting is a method often used in beauty and makeup commercials and in comedies. A high key look gives you fewer shadows and makes your talent look flawless and elegant. It produces an even amount of light that spreads across an entire scene. It’s also useful for producing food or product imagery when you need the light to be even across the entire scene.

A high key lighting style often involves a soft key light directly above the camera — and not too close to the talent. Positioning the light directly in front of the talent creates less shadow, making the skin look softer and smoother. Usually, these lights will be large — at least a 6×6 butterfly. High key lighting also produces a beautiful catch light in the talent’s eyes.

Low Key Lighting

As opposed to high key lighting, low key lighting is much more dramatic. Low key lighting typically involves lots of contrast and creates an entirely different mood than high key lighting. Low key’s transition from highlight to shadow is much quicker and more dramatic — and harsh. Usually low key lighting is very close to a subject, and the light source is typically dimmer to accommodate this. In fact, in some cases, you can light someone on a white backdrop, but it will appear black because of how close the light is to a subject.

By placing the light closer to the subject, the transition from highlight to shadow occurs much faster, creating a much more dramatic scene.

Bibliography

https://expertphotography.com/rembrandt-lighting-photography/

https://www.adorama.com/alc/faq-what-is-split-lighting

https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/high-key-vs-low-key-lighting/