Lightings

deliberate use of light to achieve a practical or aesthetic effect.

Lighting can emphasize important details or hide them. It can flatter a subject by bringing out positive attributes and it can de-emphasize or hide less attractive attributes. Lighting can even impart a sinister and hostile look.

Television is based on the medium of light; in fact, without light there could be no video. Just as sound must be skillfully controlled in audio production, light must be expertly controlled in television. 

Functions of Lighting

To provide the television camera with adequate illumination for technicallyacceptable pictures.

To establish the general mood of the event.

To show the viewers what the objects shown on screen actually look like,say, for instance, if there was no light in the room, we would not have beenable to see how the chair, table or anything else for that matter would looklike. Lights also help us know when the event is taking place, in terms of theseason and the time of the day

Key Termsbarn doors metal flaps mounted in front of

a lighting instrument taht control the speed of the light beam

baselight even, nondirectional (diffused) light necessary for the camera to operate optimally. normal baselight levels are 150-200 ft candles (1500-2000 lux) at f/8 to f/16. also called basecolor temperature the standard by which we measure the relative reddishness or bluishness of white light. it is measured on the Delvin (K) scale. the standard color temperature for indoor light is 3200K; for outdoor it is 5600K. technically the numbers express Kelvin degrees

dimmer a device that controls the intensity of light by throttling the electric current flowing to the lamp

ellipsoidal spotlight spotlight that produces a very defined beam, which can be shaped further by metal shutters

floodlight lighting instrument that produces diffused light with a relatively undefined beam edge

foot-candle the amount of light that falls on an object. one foot-candle is the amount of light from a single candle that falls on a 1-square-foot area located 1 foot away from the light source

Fresnel spotlight one of the most common spotlights, named after the inventor of its lens. its lens has steplike concentric rings

LED light stand for light emitting diode light. its light source is an array of semiconductors (a solid-state electronic device) that emits light when electricity passes through. Can produce different-colored light

LED light stand for light emitting diode light. its light source is an array of semiconductors (a solid-state electronic device) that emits light when electricity passes through. Can produce different-colored lightlumen the light intensity power of one candle (light source radiating isotropically, i.e., in all directions)

luminaire technical term for a lighting instrument

luminant lamp that produces the light; the light source

lux european standard unit for measuring light intensity. 11.75 lux = 1fc; usually roughly translated as 10 lux = 1 fc

quartz a high-intensity incandescent light whose lamp consists of a quartz or silica housing (instead of the customary glass) that contains halogen gas and a tungsten filament. produces a very bright light of stable color temperature (3200K). also called a TH (tungsten-halogen) lamp

softlight television floodlight that produces extremely diffused light

spotlight a lighting instrument that produces directional, relatively undiffused light with a relatively well-defined beam edge

Qualities in lighting

The four main qualities or properties of lighting are intensity, color and focus.

Intensity is measured in lux, lumens and foot-candles. The intensity of a luminaire (lighting instrument or fixture) depends on a number of factors including its lamp power, the design of the instrument (and its efficiency), optical obstructions such as color gels or mechanical filters, the distance to the area to be lit and the beam or field angle of the fixture, the color and material to be lit, and the relative contrasts to other regions of illumination.

Color temperature is measured in kelvins. A light's apparent color is determined by its lamp color, the color of any gels in the optical path, its power level, and the color of the material it lightsDirection refers to the shape, quality and evenness of a lamp's output.

Focus is a term usually used to describe where an instrument is pointed. 

Citizen Kane (1941)

LightingInstruments

"Quartz" LampsAlmost all incandescent lamps used in TV production are tungsten-halogen lamps (commonly called quartz lamps). They normally range from 500 to 2,000 watts.This type of lamp is more efficient than the common light bulb type incandescent lamp, and it does not darken with age.Tungsten-halogen lamps are used in several common types of lighting instruments including the type that has been used for decades, the Fresnel (pronounced fra-nell).

Special care must be taken when these lamps are changed (in addition to unplugging the lights and letting them cool down) to make sure that oil from fingers is not deposited on the outer glass (quartz) envelope of the lamp. Because of the great heat associated with these lamps, any residue of this sort will create an area of concentrated heat that will cause the lamp to fail -- and they can be rather expensive to replace.

Fresnels

The Fresnel lens, invented by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel, consists of concentric circles that both concentrate and slightly diffuse the light. Note the photo on the left below. The coherence (quality) of the resulting light represents an ideal blend between hard and soft. In the studio these lights are typically hung from a grid in the ceiling.

The LED offers the advantage of power efficiency by producing more light per watt used. As a result, LED instruments also operate at low temperatures like fluorescent lights. LED lights can be controlled to change colors on cue. This feature is useful for matching indoor or outdoor light conditions. LEDs can also be dimmed while keeping their original color temperature. LED instruments are expensive and can produce some undesirable artifacts under certain camera conditions. Fortunately, the technology is rapidly improving and production costs are decreasing.

LED Light

EllipsoidalThe ellipsoidal is a specific type of spotlight used in studio applications as a key light for actors or to enhance set details. The instrument reflects light off of a surface shaped like an ellipsoid placed in the rear of the unit. The light path can be focused by moving the lamp closer to or farther away from the reflector. The light is further focused using a lens attached at the front of a narrow tube that directs the light path. Internal frame shutters can also restrict the light pattern. The result is a small to mid-sized circular light pattern.

Scoop

Scoops provide a broad, soft light pattern used to boost overall light levels across an entire scene. Scoops cannot be focused. They include lamps that range from 500 to 2,000 watts and include a frame in the front that allows insertion of colored gels.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent instruments provide extremely soft, broad lighting. The high efficiency and cool operating temperatures of this type of lighting make them ideal choices for lighting actors up close when other light sources may cause perspiration or discomfort.