Through experience, you will learn what effects to expect from lighting. Good lighting is created through an orderly, thought-out process involving several steps that  should  be  taken  in  chronological  order: 1. Previsualize. You should form a mental picture of how the subject should look What should be shown? What part of the subject should be featured or be the center of interest? 2. Determine what type of lighting to use. From what direction should the main light come? Where should the fill lights be located? From what distance should  the  light  come? 3. Select the equipment that can best do the job. What camera 4x5 inch, 8x10 inch, 2 1/4 inch, or 35mm? What kind of lights-strobe, incandescent, flood, or spot? What accessories are needed-reflectors, barn doors, umbrellas, and so forth. 4.  Establish  the  lighting.  Is  the  key  light  doing what you want? Would another light do a better job? Is there enough shadow detail? Is more or less fill light needed? Are there too many highlights and are they in the right places? Are the highlights too bright? Do each of the lights add to the overall quality of the lighting, or can some of them be eliminated? Will the subject record on  the  film  as  previsualized? 5. Determine the exposure. What should be the exposure for the highlights and the shadows? What is the correct exposure for the overall set? Will the film record the contrast range between important highlights and  shadows? 6. Check the set. Is light spilling onto the camera lens causing flare? Is the composition as it should be? Are  important  details  obstructed? 7. Expose the film. CREATING  THE  LIGHTING For most product photography, the first light to be placed  is  the  main  light,  then  lights  to  create  highlights are added, and finally any fill lights. However, the order in which the lights are placed depend somewhat on the subject to be photographed. When, for example, the product is tented, the procedure should be to establish an overall, high level of illumination first. Other lights should then be added to better show shape, form, and bulk of the subject. You should always start your lighting setup with the main  light.  The  usual  position  for  the  main  light  in product photography is high and somewhat behind the subject. The position of this light is very important. To establish this light, you should do the following: 1. Darken the set. 2. Through the camera ground glass, view the effect of the main light on the subject. Have an assistant move the main light in the general area previsualized for the main light. Establish the main light in a position where  it  produces  the  most  pleasing  and  desired  effect. Remember, the farther the main light is from the subject, the smaller the highlights and the sharper the edges of the shadows. As the light is moved, notice the change in highlight and shadow areas. It is important for you to observe the effect of the lighting (through the ground glass)  exactly  as  the  camera  will  see  it.  The characteristics of the main light greatly influence the overall  quality  of  the  picture. 3. Add secondary spotlights as needed to create highlights and texture. Highlights other than those produced by the main light may be needed to help separate and define subject planes as well as to separate the subject from the background or its surroundings. By using  secondary  spotlights  in  a  crosslighting  or skimming manner, you can emphasize the surface texture of the subject. Establishing the secondary lights to produce the desired highlights and texture is more time-consuming than positioning either the main or the fill lights. When the subject is a complex shape or has many planes, several  small,  secondary  lights  may  be  needed. 4. And finally, once the main light and highlights have been established, the fill-in illumination is applied to provide the appropriate shadow detail. The fill light illumination is usually supplied by one or more diffused floodlights or reflectors. Care must be taken to ensure that the fill-in lighting does not cast distinguishable shadows.  This  problem  can  generally  be  solved  by positioning the fill lights close to the camera and at a low angle or about tabletop height. Every light you use in product photography should have a definite purpose in creating the final photograph. A dominant light source must prevail without  undue  competition  from  other  light  sources. If the addition of a new light creates new problems, then start over again. Remember, the simplest approaches to product lighting are the best. Lighting  Ratio Whenever you light the set for small product photography, you must keep lighting ratios in mind. A 6-26