Mastering Midjourney Series: The 12 Lighting Keywords You Need to Know
The world of image generation with Midjourney can be a frustrating place.
As someone who generated over 3000 images on Midjourney, getting results that match our original vision can be a real challenge.
To help with this problem, I’m exploring a variety of composition techniques and their underlying keywords. By examining key elements such as perspective, lighting, and color, I hope to provide valuable insights for anyone looking to create stunning visuals with this amazing tool.
I've started with perspective.
And today, we go deep into lighting.
Base Prompt
A dramatic photo of a young Asian teenager in a bustling city street, framed in a long shot, {lighting params} — ar 3:2 — v 5 — seed <SEED>
I'm keeping the prompt and seed fixed and varying only the lighting for more relevant results for the study. Below you can see the most impactful keywords, their use cases, and their impact on the results.
Golden Hour
Just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon, creating a warm, soft light. It is often used for portrait photography or landscape photography to create a dreamy, romantic atmosphere.
Blue Hour
Twilight. When the sun is below the horizon, but its indirect light creates a blue sky. It is often used for urban photography or cityscapes to create a cool, serene atmosphere.
Overcast lighting
The light on cloudy days, when it is soft and even. It creates a natural diffused light, and it is often used for portraits or outdoor photography to eliminate harsh shadows and create a soft, even light.
Harsh Sunlight
Occurs on bright, sunny days when the light is direct and intense, creating harsh shadows and high contrast. It is often used for outdoor sports or action photography to create dramatic highlights and shadows.
Low-key lighting
Dim light sources that create deep shadows and a limited range of tones. It is often used for film noir or horror photography to create a dark, ominous atmosphere.
Side Lighting
When the light source is to the side of the subject, creating shadows and highlights on one side. It is often used for portrait or fashion photography to create a dramatic, moody effect.
Backlighting
When the light source is behind the subject, creating a rim of light around the subject. It is often used for portrait or silhouette photography to create a dramatic effect.
High key lighting
A bright light source that creates a light, airy atmosphere with minimal shadows. It is often used for fashion or beauty photography to create a bright, cheerful look.
Cinematic Lighting
Lighting techniques used in movies. It involves using high-contrast lighting, deep shadows, and selective lighting to create a dramatic effect. It is often used in portrait photography, fashion photography, and films.
Warm lighting
Refers to lighting that has a yellow or orange cast, often associated with candlelight or the light of the setting sun. It can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere and is often used in portrait photography and interior design.
Volumetric Light
A lighting technique that simulates the way light interacts with particles in the air. It's used to create atmospheric and dramatic effects and add depth to a scene. A powerful tool used in films and games to enhance the visual and emotional impact of a scene.
Studio Light
Light in a controlled studio environment, involving multiple lights and light modifiers to create a specific effect. It is often used in portrait photography, product photography, and commercials.
There you have it — mastering the use of lighting is key to achieving the best results with Midjourney. With the 12 lighting keywords we’ve covered here, you’ll be able to create images at a new level.
So why wait?
Start experimenting with these lighting techniques today and see the impact for yourself!
