purpose of lighting is to create mood, theme, visibility, communicate with the audience, shades/shadows, 3D, perspective and proportion.
Direction Angles
frontal lighting – flat, no shadows, usually taken with a flash.
Light at 45 degrees – Semi deep shadows, subject will look 3Dish. 2 point or 3 point lighting, graduation photo.
90 degree lighting – horror/thriller/suspense, very deep shadows, contrast, makes the audience feel uneasy.
135 degree lighting – volume, little facial features, hair, some glance
180 degrees – lighting behind the subject. Enhance the body, focus, shadow, sensual, highlight an area.
Backlight 30 degrees – Head/hair, halo – godly/hero, natural. Can be high and posterior.
Zenthial – deep creepy shadows, hard light, created by one structure.
Frontal Zenthial – dramatic, scary, deep shadows.
Photography 