Lighting Techniques

Lighting TechniquesLighting Techniques

Lighting AestheticsLighting Aesthetics

Responsibility of the lighting director Responsibility of the lighting director or director of photography (DOP)or director of photography (DOP)

Part of the visual narrative’s designPart of the visual narrative’s design““painting with light”painting with light”

Uses of LightUses of Light

IlluminationIllumination MoodMood Guide our attentionGuide our attention Texture and ShapeTexture and Shape

2 types of shadows•Attached

•Cast

Attached shadow

Cast shadow

4 Major Features of Filmic 4 Major Features of Filmic LightingLighting

(From the book Film Art by Bordwell & Thompson)(From the book Film Art by Bordwell & Thompson)A.A. QualityQuality

1)1) Hard – clearly defined shadows/ light and Hard – clearly defined shadows/ light and dark areasdark areas

2)2) Soft – diffused illumination, soft shadows, Soft – diffused illumination, soft shadows, indirect or indistinct lightingindirect or indistinct lighting

3)3) Harsh – extreme differences between light Harsh – extreme differences between light and dark areas, high-contrast imageand dark areas, high-contrast image

B.B. DirectionDirection1)1) Frontal LightFrontal Light

2)2) Side LightSide Light

3)3) Back LightBack Light

4)4) Under LightUnder Light

5)5) Top LightTop Light


(From the book Film Art by Bordwell & Thompson)(From the book Film Art by Bordwell & Thompson)

C.C. SourceSource1)1) Artificial – includes bulbs, glow sticks, diodes Artificial – includes bulbs, glow sticks, diodes

and other man-made light sourcesand other man-made light sources

2)2) Natural – includes sunlight, moonlight, fire Natural – includes sunlight, moonlight, fire and other naturally occurring lightsand other naturally occurring lights

NaturalArtificial



D.D. ColorColor1)1) Apparent Color – color as observed by Apparent Color – color as observed by

human eyeshuman eyes2)2) Color Temperature – color based on Color Temperature – color based on

equivalent temperature against a black equivalent temperature against a black background; represented in ºK background; represented in ºK (degrees of Kelvin)(degrees of Kelvin)

Common Color Temperatures

•Tungsten 3600 ºK

•Daylight 5600 ºK

•Fluorescent 5400 ºK



©MediaKit 2004©MediaKit 2004

White BalanceWhite BalanceCalibrating the video camera to register/ Calibrating the video camera to register/

represent the correct colors given the represent the correct colors given the lighting of a particular shot lighting of a particular shot

Why balance with White? White Light is Why balance with White? White Light is composed of relatively equal amounts composed of relatively equal amounts of all the colors in the visible spectrumof all the colors in the visible spectrum

What you need…

Clean white sheet of paper OR white towel OR white shirt back

Find the White Balance Selector and set it to the manual setting… the icon looks like this:

White Balance Presets

Tungsten

Daylight

Manual

3-point Lighting3-point Lighting

Most basic professional lighting set-upMost basic professional lighting set-up Incorporates the essential light Incorporates the essential light

sources and directionssources and directions Allows for expansion and Allows for expansion and

experimentationexperimentation Provides the foundation for setups Provides the foundation for setups

that may include from 4 up to 100 that may include from 4 up to 100 lightslights

In real life there is usually only one or In real life there is usually only one or two light sources… 3-point lighting two light sources… 3-point lighting creates illusion of “reality” for the creates illusion of “reality” for the cameracamera

Components of the 3-point Lighting Components of the 3-point Lighting SetupSetup

KEY lightKEY light Main source of lightMain source of lightBrightest light source striking a subject Brightest light source striking a subject

from the camera’s viewpoint, hard from the camera’s viewpoint, hard qualityquality

Provides good modeling or texture of Provides good modeling or texture of subject when placed 30 or 40 degrees subject when placed 30 or 40 degrees away from the camera-subject axisaway from the camera-subject axis



KEY light techniquesKEY light techniques The higher the position The higher the position

the lesser shadows are the lesser shadows are created in the created in the backgroundbackground

Flat presentation: light Flat presentation: light same height as camerasame height as camera

Mysterious, light is Mysterious, light is placed lower than the placed lower than the cameracamera

©MediaKit 2004©MediaKit 2004 Images from American History X

The minimal use of fill The minimal use of fill lights create “lights create “Low key Low key lightinglighting” used in Film Noir ” used in Film Noir and other “dark” genresand other “dark” genres


CHIAROSCURO:CHIAROSCURO:Play of light and Play of light and shadow; literally shadow; literally

means “dark face”means “dark face”

Contrasted against shadow

for extra dramatic effect

Well lit face area…


FILL lightFILL light Secondary source/ balances Secondary source/ balances

off the key lightoff the key light Provides general illumination Provides general illumination

to the setto the set Helps “fill-in” some of the Helps “fill-in” some of the

shadows created by the fill shadows created by the fill and reduce contrast and reduce contrast between light and shadow between light and shadow areasareas

Usually placed at camera Usually placed at camera height or just slightly above height or just slightly above to fill-in shadowsto fill-in shadows

Usually on the opposite side Usually on the opposite side of the camera from the key of the camera from the key lightlight

Determines significant Determines significant emotion and moodemotion and mood



BACK lightBACK light

Known as “separation light” Known as “separation light” separates subject from separates subject from background, creates depthbackground, creates depth

One or two separation that One or two separation that complete the 3-point complete the 3-point lighting triangle or four lighting triangle or four point rectanglepoint rectangle

Usually placed above and Usually placed above and behind the subject to create behind the subject to create a halo effect that outlines a halo effect that outlines the subject separating it the subject separating it from the backgroundfrom the background

Strong backlight creates a Strong backlight creates a bright halo effectbright halo effect


Parts of the LightParts of the Light 800 watt Ianiro “Redhead” Light800 watt Ianiro “Redhead” Light

Barn doors

Accessory holder &

lock

Tilt lock

Reflector control

neck

Neck clamp

Riser locks

Power cord

Switch

Head casin

g

Spreader


Parts of the LightParts of the Light 800 watt Ianiro “Redhead” Light800 watt Ianiro “Redhead” Light

Protective screen

Bulb

Reflector

Barn door clip


KINOFLO - Has low power consumption, light control with barn doors and louvers, flicker free ballast and can match to daylight, tungsten, or existing florescent.

HMI- Hydrargyrum Medium arc-length Iodide daylight-balanced so they emit light at a color temperature of 5600K meaning that they emit 'bluer' more natural looking light. They also have the advantage that they are more efficient so they don't get as hot as conventional tungsten lights.

SUN GUN – daylight balanced, can be attached to video camera esp. during ENG’s or electronic news gathering

Other common lighting Other common lighting systemssystems

Lighting AccessoriesLighting Accessories

Reflector paper (car

shade)

Color gels(red, green,

midnight blue)

Diffuser(a.k.a.

“tracing paper”)

Full CT-Blue Tungsten to Daylight Conversion gel (light

blue)

Full CT-Orange Daylight to Tungsten Conversion gel (light

orange)

Scrim (2 densities available)

Neutral Density Filter

(gray)Cuts down

light intensity by 1/8


Setup and lockSetup and lock the light stand before mounting the light head the light stand before mounting the light head OpenOpen barn doors before switching light on barn doors before switching light on Call outCall out “LIGHTS” before switching light on “LIGHTS” before switching light on LOOK AWAYLOOK AWAY from bulb when switching on from bulb when switching on Make sure neck and stand are always Make sure neck and stand are always lockedlocked before releasing before releasing

lightslights Always have Always have PRESENCE OF MINDPRESENCE OF MIND when working around lights when working around lights DO NOT MOVE or JARDO NOT MOVE or JAR the lights when on, you might burn out the lights when on, you might burn out

the bulb/ cause it to explodethe bulb/ cause it to explode Use Use SAND BAGSSAND BAGS or or WEIGHTSWEIGHTS to steady the stand to steady the stand Always switch off lights before movingAlways switch off lights before moving Keep or PlaceKeep or Place unused lights in the box or safe areaunused lights in the box or safe area Barn doors and accessories become Barn doors and accessories become VERY HOTVERY HOT when used, be when used, be

very careful, use gloves if you wantvery careful, use gloves if you want

Reminders and Care TipsReminders and Care Tips

Using the Lighting PlotUsing the Lighting Plot

Name of the setup,

scene or effect

being set up

Layout of lights and

other equipment

to set up the shot

Notes regarding the setup

OPTIONALDetail of special setups or effect

OPTIONALWhat the shot should or will look like on camera


You may digitally illustrate thisUsing AutoCAD or Photoshop

or manually with colored pencil drawings

Documents

Lighting Techniques