CRASH COURSE
ESSENTIAL PHOTO SKILLS MADE EASY
Mike Harris shows you how to use artificial lighting and a ring to cast a heart-shaped shadow on the pages of an open book
If you’ve ever dismissed working with artificial light because you don’t have the space or the funds to invest in expensive lighting equipment, here’s a neat little project that anybody can do at home – all you need is a ring, a torch, a tripod and a book.
This tried-and-tested method combines the circular shadow cast by a ring and the folds of an old book to create an impression of a heart. It’s a popular image that’s sure to do well on Instagram of Facebook, or wow family and friends as the basis for homemade greeting cards. We’d recommend using a hardback book, because the pages are more likely to remain open under their own weight when splayed out.
If you want to go the extra mile, consider the book you use carefully, as relevant text will add an additional layer of meaning to your shot. Hopeless romantics may opt for a dictionary opened at the definition of love, while fantasy fans could pair their ring with J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth epic – we opted for an old leather-bound tome on photography. You then need to position your ring in the fold between the pages of your chosen text, and position your light source behind the subject to cast the heart shape. You can alter the shadow’s form by moving the light closer to shorten it, or further away to elongate it as you please.
1 OPEN BOOK
Place your book on a flat surface and splay out the pages. We’d recommend using a hardback, as you’ll have trouble keeping the pages of a paperback in place, and the larger surface area also gives you much more room when composing your shot. Opening the pages near the centre of the book will help them lay flat too, and will create an even surface on which to place your ring.
2 UPRIGHT RING
Place the ring in the fold between the pages. A heart-shaped shadow will be cast whether the ring stands upright or lies flat, although the former effect is usually favoured. Thicker rings tend to stand upright without any support, but if you experience any trouble when positioning the object, a small blob of mounting putty should be enough to hold it in place.
3 CLOSER TO THE HEART
As you’ll be working in low light, and may well be holding a torch in your hand, you’ll need to mount your camera on a tripod. Kit lenses are known for often having short minimum focus distances, and are therefore ideal for this
