They have been lying to you about negative fill!

In countless videos and classes I have seen people misrepresent this key lighting concept. Negative fill doesn't suck light out of the shadows, it blocks light from entering. Watch as I prove it to you in three demonstrations.

In countless videos and classes I have seen people misrepresent this key lighting concept. Negative fill doesn’t suck light out of the shadows, it blocks light from entering. Watch as I prove it to you in three demonstrations.

Lighting Tutorial: It’s a Hardbox Light

A stunning headshot of a black male model near Chicago Illinois

Over time, I have seen many images where a pattern is projected onto someone’s face, and I’ve always struggled to simulate this type of lighting. My attempts usually resulted in poorly defined shapes and not the sort of razor-sharp edges I was expecting.