Part of the requirements in receiving a BFA in Photography from the University of Arizona included half a dozen semesters of art history.  At the time I felt like this was over kill and was only interested in attending my photo related classes.  In hindsight, one of the greatest influences that shaped my personal vision as a photographer did not come from studying the work of the master photographers, but that of a master painter. 

The first art history class I attended was an intense overview starting with the primitive caveman etchings, through to the present day.  When we began studying the 17th century Baroque and Renaissance time period, I was completely captivated by the master painters and their use of light.  In particular was Rembrandt's use of light falling cross his subjects.  If you look closely at his portrait work you will see that the cheek opposite the light source produces a triangle highlight just under the eye.  This is due to the roundness of the cheek and the shape of the nose catching the light as it crosses the face.  This is what has been coined the “Rembrandt Triangle”. 

A few years ago I got to see one of Rembrandt’s original painting entitled, Self Portrait 1652, hanging in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.  I stood there for at least 45 minutes studying that image.

It took years before I realized how much influence Rembrandt was to have on my images.  But with my very first portraits, I set out to emulate this look.  To this day, this cross light Rembrandt effect is still one of the most appealing ways in which to shoot a portrait.