What this setup creates
This video demonstrates a two-light setup using orange and blue gels to create a dramatic and colorful portrait. Fromone side, with an orange gel, is positioned at 45 degrees to the left of the subject, while a blue-gelled light acts as a rim light from the right and slightly behind A top bounce fill light from the front adds overall ambience. The result is a vibrant image with high contrast and distinct color separation on a white background.
Light placement
An orange-gelled light acts as a key light, positioned to the subject's left and slightly in front (45 degrees). A blue-gelled light acts as a rim or accent light from the subject's right and slightly behind. A top bounce light from the front gives an overall fill.
How to build it
Two lights with colored gels (orange and blue) are used. The orange-gelled light serves as the key light at 45 degrees, while the blue-gelled light acts as a rim light. Both lights appear to be bare or have minimal modifiers, leading to hard light and distinct shadows. The background is a white seamless that catches the light spill. A top bounce light gives an overall fill.
- Lighting style
- Dramatic and high-contrast lighting with distinct color separation achieved through the use of colored gels. Creates a strong visual impact with warm and cool tones.
- Key light
- 45 degree
- Light quality
- Hard light, High contrast
- Shadows
- Deep shadows, Dramatic shadows
- Background
- Seamless backdrop, Ambient spill
- Colour
- Cinematic teal-orange, Warm tones, Cool tones
- Visual mood
- Dramatic, Fashion-forward, Energetic, Commercial clean, Cinematic
Camera settings
Suggested starting point- Aperture
- f/8
- Shutter speed
- 1/160s
- ISO
- 100
- Focal length
- 85mm
- White balance
- Flash
Inferred standard studio portrait settings for hard, continuous light with dynamic color gels.
