duces a dull and uninteresting photograph.
Correct tonal separation is
achieved by using the correct film and filter combinations, covered in SS
0508, good exposure and processing techniques, covered in SS 0509, effective
lighting, and most of all, careful subject placement.
Think of tonal
separation as the opposite of camouflage. Where camouflage hides a subject
in the environment. Tonal separation directs the center of interest to the
subject by making the subject stand out from the environment.
Example, a
soldier in white arctic clothing standing in front of a snow covered hill.
He blends in with his environment.
By placing him in front of green
foliage, he will stand out (fig 4-14). Without tonal separation the subject
is part of the background/environment.
Figure 4-14.
Total separation
9. Lighting.
Light is directly connected with composition.
Proper
lighting produces effective tonal separation and emphasizes the principle
Light produces highlights and shadows.
Shadows can
produce leading lines, adding direction. For example, the primary subject
setting in a chair reading a book, with a house lamp and shade on her right
side (fig 4-15). The highlights would naturally be on her right side and
the shadows on the left. If you want to add supplementary lighting to this
scene, you should place the "Key Light" in a position to light the subject's
right side and use a "Fill Light" to lighten the shadows on the left. If
you reversed this lighting set up, the photograph will show the shadow side
of her face facing the house lamp.
This would create confusion with the
viewer.
67
Previous Page
