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How can we use shadows to decipher lighting setups?

Shadows, Catchlights can give-away a lot about the lighting setup of an image.

However I find shadows hard to read, so I'm looking for advice. Below each image is my attempt at deciphering the lighting- I'd like to know if you disagree.

Image by Jose Vieira Jose Vieira My guess:

  • Single-strobe, diffused. Placed 45 Degrees to the right of the head; I was tempted to say subject-right. However when I noticed the left-side of the leaf and the catch-light, I changed my mind.

  • Between the camera and subject vs behind the subject; the former, as the the exposure on the chin would be much lower were it behind the subject.

  • While the catch-light says soft-light, the structural definition of the leaf has me thinking hard light.

Image 2 by Jannico Kelk Jannico Kelk My guess:

  • Single strobe. Subject-left; totally unexposed jaw.

  • Hard-lighting; snoot, box/grid. To only light the tops of the snake, I suspect the light was pointed upwards.

HelloWorld
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