How to Make Shadow Transition Photography

Stand your model in an area that has dark-colored, nonreflective walls if possible. You can tape a black bed sheet to the wall to use as a backdrop, if necessary. Point the light source at a 90-degree angle to the model's face. Use a bare bulb without the use of a reflector or light filter. This will create a strong shadow on the unlit side of the model's face. Move the light away from her face until the desired shadow is achieved. Take the photograph as a straight-on shot of her face. The shadow transition will be a sharp crisp line from unlit to lit sections of her face.

Set the light source about 5 feet in front of your model so it is pointing in the opposite direction. Have an assistant hold the sheet of white poster board in front of the light source. Have him rotate the angle of the poster board until it bounces the light back towards the model. By reflecting the light source the shadow transition on the model will be drastically smoother. The edges will fade much more gradually.

Have your model stand in front of a well lit window. Turn off all other lights in the room. Ask the model to look out the window while you take a side profile portrait of her. Notice how the hard light from the sun lights the front of her face. The shadow transition will be apparent on the side of her face by producing a darkened silhouette with a fully lit face. Depending on the intensity of the sun, the shadow transition will vary from hard to soft.