If you've never heard of this term, or perhaps have, but had no idea with that the photographer was referring to, then the next five minutes should be very enlightening (no pun - ok - a little pun intended there) for you. Capturing catchlights is very popular technique in portraiture and for good reason! A catch light is a spark of light in your subject’s eyes. This spark will help draw the viewer’s attention to your subject’s eyes making them full of life and, well, sparkling.
Technically speaking a catchlight is a light source that causes a specular highlight (something super shiny) in the subject's eyes in an image and they can be created a number of ways. The absence of them can really drag a portrait down, making it dull and lifeless.
Look at the images of Sula below; because she's a black dog and we photographed her with low-key lighting, we really need to see both of her eyes and in this pose there's barely a wisp of a catchlight in her camera-right eye. She looks like a pirate! But with a slight turn of her head toward the light, bingo! We've got bright eyes popping in this black dog against a dark gray background. Image how lifeless this image would look if we didn't have catchlights in her eyes?
Click on images to view full size.
You don't need to be in a studio or have a flash to create a catchlight, you can use any bright source of light like the sun. MacArthur on the left and Abby on the right were both photographed in their backyard with natural light, here the sky provides the bright light to add a sparkle to their eyes (and you can even see the blue sky in Abby's catchlights!).
I used the bright sun bouncing off the white gravel road to reflect light up into the eyes of Bear; he's in the shade, but see that sparkle in his eyes? This stunner is available for adoption by the way! If you'd like to learn more about him, or any of the other great dogs available from Cane Rosso Rescue visit their website. Giving back to animals in need is core to the mission and values of Penny Whistle Photography, you can see all of my volunteer partners here.
When photographing indoors, place your subject near a window and let the light in! I positioned my own dog, and favorite model Ginger, near a bank of windows in our south-facing sunroom to put catchlights in her eyes. You can even see the windowpane pattern in the close up. Incorporating catchlights is a great way to bump up your own family photos a notch.
Thanks again to the Pet Photography 52 Weeks Project for the weekly prompt to get my creative juices flowing and explore and explain the ins and outs of pet photography. If you'd like to see other photographers take on "catchlights", start with the work of Kathie Ono of Ono Pet Photography in Fairhope Alabama and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each blog post for an around-the-world tour of some truly breathtaking pet photography.
14 comments
Jan 28, 2018 1:23:53 PM
Linda Perdue - Lovely photos of the dogs - love the variety that you are providing in your photos.
Jan 28, 2018 11:06:14 AM
Sam Adele - These are fab! Lovely colours on each too!
Jan 26, 2018 6:48:13 PM
Lynda - Great example with Sula which shows the importance of catchlights. Bear looks like a character, and Ginger.....so sweet! Lovely shots.
Jan 26, 2018 6:34:15 PM
John - Beautiful examples! I love Abby's underbite too. :)
Jan 26, 2018 6:12:54 PM
Sandra mccarthy - All really great examples of sparkly catchlights.
Jan 26, 2018 5:48:13 PM
Lynda - Great example with Sula which shows the importance of catchlights. Bear looks like a character, and Ginger.....so sweet! Lovely shots.
Jan 26, 2018 5:29:22 PM
Ursula - What gorgeous subjects! Beautiful examples of catchlights.
Jan 26, 2018 3:37:12 PM
Danyel Rogers - Abby's teeth have so much character. Bear has an amazing smile. Ginger's eyes sparkle with cuteness.
Jan 26, 2018 11:01:52 AM
Shelly Ellis - Love the scruffy face! You seem to be able to capture such soul in each of the images. How could anyone not want all of them!
Jan 26, 2018 10:48:11 AM
Kelly - Bear!!! Love seeing the window panes in the catchlights of your baby!
Jan 26, 2018 8:50:51 AM
Kell - Wonderful examples of catchlights. And, what a looker Bear is! I hope he finds a home soon.
Jan 26, 2018 6:53:42 AM
Linda Metcalf - Bear is delightful and obviously so happy to be with you! Great description (and visuals) of catchlights. Love the simplicity of Ginger on the wood floor bathed in light.
Jan 26, 2018 6:44:04 AM
Courtney Bryson - I love the red ribbon around the cat's neck!
Great work with catchlights.
Jan 26, 2018 5:35:54 AM
Kim Hollis - Bear is gorgeous! I hope he finds his forever home soon.