Comments on: An Introduction to Catchlights http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:38:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Erik Kerstenbeck http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-243277 Erik Kerstenbeck Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:27:08 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-243277 Hi Can you tell the lighting setup from the Catch Lights in this shot? Look at the first image, then check the behind the scenes shot. http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/behind-the-scenes/ Hi

Can you tell the lighting setup from the Catch Lights in this shot? Look at the first image, then check the behind the scenes shot.

http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/behind-the-scenes/

]]> By: Pictureman http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-214157 Pictureman Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:47:11 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-214157 I just wanted to step in and agree with Rob. It is not elitist to say that skilled photographers, professional or amateur, work to catch a moment in the frame. There is an art to the darkroom and Photoshop too, but relying on post-production to fix rather than enhance an already worthy image deprives the individual of learning and improving. If your goal is to paint a picture in PS, that's fine, but there is also an art to capturing a moment, and you either work to be good at that or you don't. Ansel Adams or Cartier-Bresson didn't have digital cameras and they didn't say I've got other things to do. That is why their negatives are in museums. I just wanted to step in and agree with Rob. It is not elitist to say that skilled photographers, professional or amateur, work to catch a moment in the frame. There is an art to the darkroom and Photoshop too, but relying on post-production to fix rather than enhance an already worthy image deprives the individual of learning and improving. If your goal is to paint a picture in PS, that’s fine, but there is also an art to capturing a moment, and you either work to be good at that or you don’t. Ansel Adams or Cartier-Bresson didn’t have digital cameras and they didn’t say I’ve got other things to do. That is why their negatives are in museums.

]]> By: Yucel http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-146330 Yucel Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:26:37 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-146330 Have been reading and into catch lights last several months. Posed examples of catchlights from various studio lighting sources, like beauty dish, boxes, umbrellas, and ring lights. See examples at: http://glamourphotography.co/?p=739 My favs now are using two boxes and rings. Making them in photoshop is still an area for study. Tho I do touch them up and down. Have been reading and into catch lights last several months.

Posed examples of catchlights from various studio lighting sources, like beauty dish, boxes, umbrellas, and ring lights.

See examples at: http://glamourphotography.co/?p=739

My favs now are using two boxes and rings.

Making them in photoshop is still an area for study. Tho I do touch them up and down.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-70378 Jackie Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:29:45 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-70378 catchlights have always been difficult for me b/c i shoot actor's headshots mostly with natural lighting - i have to use reflectors too, so these little boogers are always slightly adding in their own silhouette into the eyes of my clients. AND my driveway is white, and the wall against my driveway is light=colored ...so my perfect lighting is still creating some funky catchlights. it's frustrating not being able to be perfect. LOL. studio light provides better results for the catch lights, but not always the even lighting that i need. Ohhh, the dilemma! catchlights have always been difficult for me b/c i shoot actor’s headshots mostly with natural lighting – i have to use reflectors too, so these little boogers are always slightly adding in their own silhouette into the eyes of my clients. AND my driveway is white, and the wall against my driveway is light=colored …so my perfect lighting is still creating some funky catchlights. it’s frustrating not being able to be perfect. LOL. studio light provides better results for the catch lights, but not always the even lighting that i need. Ohhh, the dilemma!

]]> By: Photogirlz http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-61905 Photogirlz Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:23:52 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-61905 This was interesting to read all of the views. to the one above that said "The challenge of photography is capturing the image via the tool in your hand, not the santized “just add water” method of PS. Call yourself “photographers”?? Haven't you forgotten that in the olden days there was what was called a dark room and in it you would dodge and burn to finish your photos and now in the modern day there is photoshop used in the exact same manner. You come across as an elitist and forget that simply taking a photo does not a great photograph make. I am sure that you are exceptional in your work but try not to put down your fellow photographers. Art comes from the completion of a photograph made both in a camera and a darkroom of sorts. Catch lights are a critical part of photography and I have seen many amazing photographs that do not have the traditional flash catchlight but a sparkle that is in the Iris as well and have been working on acheiveing that myself. Any suggestions? feel free to check out and comment on my work at www.2create.ca Thank you This was interesting to read all of the views.

to the one above that said “The challenge of photography is capturing the image via the tool in your hand, not the santized “just add water” method of PS. Call yourself “photographers”??

Haven’t you forgotten that in the olden days there was what was called a dark room and in it you would dodge and burn to finish your photos and now in the modern day there is photoshop used in the exact same manner. You come across as an elitist and forget that simply taking a photo does not a great photograph make. I am sure that you are exceptional in your work but try not to put down your fellow photographers. Art comes from the completion of a photograph made both in a camera and a darkroom of sorts.

Catch lights are a critical part of photography and I have seen many amazing photographs that do not have the traditional flash catchlight but a sparkle that is in the Iris as well and have been working on acheiveing that myself. Any suggestions? feel free to check out and comment on my work at

http://www.2create.ca
Thank you

]]> By: Christopher http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-55006 Christopher Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:48:09 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-55006 Catchlights in pets vs. humans For human subjects having the catchlights at 10 or 2 o'clock works in most cases, but check out animals. In particular dogs...depending on the breed and the shape of the animal's face a natural catchlight can look very odd. In some cases the catchlight can be at 10 o'clock in one eye and 12 o'clock in another. I tend to retouch out the existing catchlights and add back in a 10 or 2 o'clock set. I've never had a client notice...I truly wonder if anyone other than photographers really ever would. Catchlights in pets vs. humans

For human subjects having the catchlights at 10 or 2 o’clock works in most cases, but check out animals. In particular dogs…depending on the breed and the shape of the animal’s face a natural catchlight can look very odd. In some cases the catchlight can be at 10 o’clock in one eye and 12 o’clock in another.

I tend to retouch out the existing catchlights and add back in a 10 or 2 o’clock set. I’ve never had a client notice…I truly wonder if anyone other than photographers really ever would.

]]> By: Destiney Fischer http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-43866 Destiney Fischer Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:40:08 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-43866 I think it was a good learning article but I am not into the pin light catch lights to me it's a tall tail sign of a flash but sometimes I realize it's hard to avoid even with an external flash bouncing of the ceiling ... but I really hate dragging my lighting out blah! One of my friends does the most amazing job with catchlights she is not pro but a student much better then me! she is most certainly going to be a star one day!!!!!! her photography is breath taking http://www.flickr.com/photos/34613426@N04/ I think it was a good learning article but I am not into the pin light catch lights to me it’s a tall tail sign of a flash but sometimes I realize it’s hard to avoid even with an external flash bouncing of the ceiling … but I really hate dragging my lighting out blah! One of my friends does the most amazing job with catchlights she is not pro but a student much better then me! she is most certainly going to be a star one day!!!!!! her photography is breath taking

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34613426@N04/

]]> By: Pat http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-39315 Pat Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:27:41 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-39315 Great article and spot on with positioning of catch lights to produce the classic lighting patterns (Rembrant) on the subject's face. Great article and spot on with positioning of catch lights to produce the classic lighting patterns (Rembrant) on the subject’s face.

]]> By: Patch http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-37580 Patch Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:03:50 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-37580 One of the reasons for placeing the catchlights at 10 or 2 o'clock is because thats going to reflect your lightsource in a natural position. The early painters did it because thier lighting was usually from above at an angle. So if youre main lighting is from the upper left of the subject, catchlights are at 2, if the light is upper right of the subject, catchlights are at 10. This will change when you start lighting your subjects in unconventional ways. back light, glow from a low candle, multiple light sources, sidelights will all modify which catchlights you add, delete, or keep. Just looking at the eyes in this post will show a wide variety of conditions: http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/20-christmas-lights-photos-with-a-twist/. As with anything to do with photography, its all about your light source. Keep the light source in mind when playing with, adding, or deleting the catchlights and you wont go wrong. One of the reasons for placeing the catchlights at 10 or 2 o’clock is because thats going to reflect your lightsource in a natural position. The early painters did it because thier lighting was usually from above at an angle. So if youre main lighting is from the upper left of the subject, catchlights are at 2, if the light is upper right of the subject, catchlights are at 10.

This will change when you start lighting your subjects in unconventional ways. back light, glow from a low candle, multiple light sources, sidelights will all modify which catchlights you add, delete, or keep. Just looking at the eyes in this post will show a wide variety of conditions: http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/20-christmas-lights-photos-with-a-twist/.

As with anything to do with photography, its all about your light source. Keep the light source in mind when playing with, adding, or deleting the catchlights and you wont go wrong.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-catchlights/comment-page-1#comment-36302 Shannon Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:07:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/an-introduction-to-catchlights/#comment-36302 Love the illustrations. Love the illustrations.

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