Fresnel lenses, originally designed for lighthouses, found their way into photography as powerful tools for shaping light. These lenses focus light effectively while remaining lightweight and portable. Whether you’re a portrait photographer or experimenting with creative lighting, understanding how to use Fresnel lenses can add depth and drama to your work.
What Are Fresnel Lenses and Why Use Them?
Our eyes are naturally drawn to the highlights, ergo increasing the overall contrast and adding stark shadows is a simple way to increase drama and add visual interest. Fresnel lenses (pronounced Fray-nel) were a favorite in 1930’s Hollywood portraiture and fashion magazines. Named after the French engineer Augustin-Jean Fresnel, this type of lighting is popular on movie sets and is favored for its ease of implementation. With the shift of the lens on a track, they have the ability to serve as both a spotlight and floodlight. Utilizing a fresnel lens is a quick way to add ample contrast to an image.
Fresnel lenses are a type of optical lens composed of concentric rings that focus light efficiently. They are often used in photography lighting modifiers to create directional, focused beams of light. This makes them ideal for producing dramatic shadows, enhancing highlights, or emphasizing textures.
Fresnel lenses come in both Tungsten and LED variations for continuous light. Lighting companies, such as Magmod and Broncolor have Fresnel modifiers to be used in combination with strobe lighting, which is what was utilized for this shoot.
The Gear
- Canon 5D Mark III
- Canon 85mm 1.2L Lens
- Broncolor Scoro 1600E WiFi RFS2 Power Pack
- Broncolor Picolite
- Broncolor Picolite Fresnel Spot Attachment
- Savage 53” by 3’ Fashion Gray Seamless Paper
- Background Stand
Shadows and contrast were at the core of this simplistic shoot in a makeshift garage studio setup. The Picolite was situated about a foot in front of and slightly to the right of the model with the Broncolor Scoro pack at its lowest setting.
The Fresnel was placed in the flood position and angled down at a 45 degree angle, producing brilliant shadows and incredible contrast that played on the moodiness of the shot. After all, Fresnels are notorious for producing strong directional light with crisp shadows.
The impact can be slightly reduced by using a bounce card or a second heavily diffused light source on a very low setting. Subtle tonalities are dispersed throughout the stark shadows and soften the overall punch while maintaining strong contrast. In this case, a Broncolor Siros L 800 ws equipped with a white thought through umbrella was added. Deciding whether or not to aim for the punchy blacks or adding more light back into the shadows is a creative decision. Additional accessories such as barn doors, scrims, CineFoils and gels can also be purchased to further manipulate the light from the Fresnel lens.
It should be noted that Fresnel lenses get hot very quickly and should be handled with care to avoid burns and other hazards. It is recommended to wear gloves whenever handling them and to avoid touching the lamp with bare hands as the oil from the skin can cause the lamp to explode under high temperatures.
Recommended Fresnel Lenses
If you are in the market for a Fresnel lens, check out some of the recommendations below for various budgets.
- ARRI 300 Plus Tungsten Fresnel
- ARRI 650 Watt Plus Tungsten Fresnel
- Dracast 700 Fresnel Tungsten LED Light
- Impact Fresnal Spot S-Mount Attachment.
- Profoto ProFresnel Spotlight Attachment for Profoto heads
3 Additional Tips for Using Fresnel Lenses in Photography
Pair the Lens with the Right Light Source
Not all light sources are compatible with Fresnel lenses, so choosing the right one is crucial. These lenses are often paired with continuous lights, such as tungsten or LED, or with strobes for photography. Ensure your light source is powerful enough to handle the intensity of a focused beam, as Fresnel lenses can amplify the output. High-output lights work best, especially when you want to create dramatic effects. Compatibility between the light and Fresnel modifier will ensure consistent and reliable results.
Experiment with Light Placement
Where you position the Fresnel lens relative to your subject can have a significant impact on the final result. Placing the light high above your subject creates a cinematic look with dramatic shadows, while a lower angle can produce a mysterious or avant-garde vibe. Side lighting emphasizes texture and depth, making it a great choice for creative portraiture or product photography. By experimenting with different angles and positions, you can discover a wide range of effects.
Experiment with Shadows and Textures
The focused nature of Fresnel light enhances shadows and textures, adding depth and drama to your images. By positioning the light at an angle to your subject, you can emphasize contours and create sculptural effects, particularly in portrait photography. The interplay of light and shadow can add mood and complexity to your work. For even more creative possibilities, try using gobos (go-between objects) or grids with your Fresnel lens to cast intricate shadow patterns on your subject or background.
Conclusion
The simplicity of Fresnel lenses are one of the main reasons they have been a studio staple for decades and are often used in multiple light setups. From fashion and beauty to video and theater to product photography, they are a prime choice for any setup that requires a curated beam of light.
