The Baroque painters from the 17th century would often use a high contrast of dark backgrounds with a single light source in their artwork. This dramatic lighting was called chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro adds lots of drama to an artwork, and so many artists, including photographers, still utilize this use of contrast today. 

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You will need a willing subject to take some dramatic photos of your own. Go into a room with minimum natural lighting (like a hallway or bathroom) or wait until after dark. Then turn off the overhead lights and only use a flashlight to illuminate your photo. 

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If you're taking photos with an iphone or ipad, you can tap your finger on the screen in different places to get the camera to focus on different areas. Play around with how much light you have on your subject and where the camera is focusing.

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