Lighting is basically the ability to use equipment to illuminate a picture in some way to create effect. Good lighting makes an effective and generally good image. Also, lighting can convey mood, atmosphere, emotion and depth. The direction, quality, and the direction of the light can be toggled to create very dramatic effects.
Lighting In This Picture
Photographer John Hedgecoe has used a sidelight to convey effect in this black and white picture. With the man in the picture facing away from light, it falls on the side profile of his face, bringing the attention there. The sidelight brings the effect of importance, it shows the depth and texture and separates the person from the background. The fact the light shines on the man does show a sense of importance about the man, he is probably famous, and the effect of a light shining on him does convey that.
FACTUAL: This picture was taken by John Hedgecoe, who was an award-winning British Photographer, and wrote over 30 books about photography. The person in the picture is director and acting legend John Gielgud who wrote many movies including The Elephant Man. the picture was taken in 1979.
CONTEXT: This picture was taken during Gielgud’s first one-man show in London, a Shakespeare reading called The Ages of Man. As a new photographer, Hedgecoe was slightly in awe of famous actors and actresses. This photo was shot in the Queen's Theatre, which was being renovated at the time. The building was full of workmen and he had to be moved to a spot where there was sufficient light.
TECHNICAL: Due to the date that this photo was taken, and the colours, I think it was taken with an old (but new at the time) black and white film camera. Hedgecoe probably would've used a massive stage light to provide the lighting.
AESTHETIC: What I like most is the beautiful simplicity of the picture, and how the lighting creates such enormous depth. Gielgud smoking in the picture creates quite a cool effect with the black and white camera; the smoke is very visible in the air.
For more info on lighting, this Slideshare can be very useful.
This helped my with the lighting
http://schsgcsephotography2011.blogspot.co.uk/
and this helped with the info about John Gelgud
http://www1.topfoto.co.uk/gallery/JohnHedgecoePortraits/ppages/ppage4.htm
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