Lighting

Without light you have no image

Carefully controlled lighting directs the viewer’s attention

Light quality

Hard light: Casts sharply defined deep shadows

The sun, candles, unfiltered tungsten lamps

Soft light: Cast soft shadows with undefined edges

Over cast day, lamps with diffusers, light reflected from certain source

Contrast range – latitude

Latitude describes the contrast range that a camera can represent

The difference between the lightest and darkest areas of the picture

Low key

Features high lighting contrast, with dark shadows and bright pools of light

Associated with night time, mystery, tragedy and horror.

High key

Features a more even distribution of light

The light will be evenly spread meaning most of the set will be lit

Lighting equipment

Tungsten lamps

Most common professional light

Range from 150w up to about 24,000w

Consists colour temp of 3200k

General lighting set ups

Three point lighting

Even when numerous lights are used they will perform one of the functions of the three point set up

Use the basic set up as a starting point for your lighting

Key light

Usually the brightest light

Casts primary shadows

Can be hard or soft

Fill light

Used to fill out shadows caused by the key without causing its own shadows

Usually softer than the key light

Back light

Creates a bright outline around the subject

Used to separate the subject from the background

Helps create depth