Lighting Basics
Everything we see is light. With no light, there's no colour. Therefore, it is an essential part of video. However, the way our eyes perceive light compared to a camera lens is very different. Cameras need much more light to produce a quality image than our eyes. And there are further nuances to light and shadow to consider when planning a video shoot.
The most common setup for lights is Three Point Lighting. The configuration consists of a key light, a fill light or side light, and a backlight or hair-light.
The key light is the primary light, the brightest of the three and provides the bulk of light to the subject. In the case of an interview, for example, it should be positioned behind the interviewer's shoulder, opposite the camera to illuminate the subject's face.
The fill or side light is used to tone down the shadows created by the key light. It makes the light across the subject's face even. The more fill light is used, the less contrast the image will have. Another way to use the fill light is having a reflector instead of an actual fill light.
The backlight or hair-light makes the subject stand out from the background, it adds depth to the image. The backlight can be a harsh light, used with no diffusion because it will not create evident shadows on the subject's face.
To control or modify our light sources we can use diffusion, CTO (Colour Temperature Orange), CTB (Colour Temperature Blue), ND Filter (Neutral Density), the barn doors on the lights.
Examples of the use of diffusion, creating a harsh light and a soft light.
CTO and CTB with colour gels over lights.
Example of ND Filters.
Lighting patterns examples using the key light:
If the key light is moved facing the subject directly, the image becomes even flat lighting look, meaning that the subject will be well light and no shadows will appear along the subject's face. As a result, the Flat Lighting is the least dramatic look one can achieve, since it doesn't give a lot of dimension or depth to the subject.
When the key light is moved up but still standing in front of the subject, we achieve the Paramount Lighting or Butterfly Lighting - referring to the shadow created under the nose that resembles a butterfly. Typically is a more feminine lighting technique because it accentuates the cheekbones and other appealing features.
A Loop lighting occurs when the key light is moved slightly to the side - the Butterfly shadow will eventually turn into a side nose shadow. Generally used in rounder face shapes because it makes the face appear longer and slimmer.
If continuing to move the key light even further, about 45 degrees from the camera, it creates the Rembrandt lighting effect - when the loop nose lighting fuses with the cheek shadow, creating a V shape on the cheek.
Split lighting occurs when the key light is moved completely to the side of the subject, at a 90-degree angle. It splits the face in half creating a very dramatic and masculine look.
Depending on where you position the camera as well, other lighting patterns are achieved. If the camera is moved to the broader side of the subject's face, the most lit side, is called Broad Light. When the camera is positioned on the darker side of the subject's face is called Short light or Dark side. Filming on the short side creates more drama and depth, reason why is more commonly used.
Techniques for a background lighting include allowing the other lights to spill on the background,
adding another artificial light source for the background alone. A common background lighting technique is called the Checkerboard light and it consists on lighting the background from the darker side of the subject's face and leave the background dark behind the bright side of the subject's face, creating depth by contrasting the light helping the subject to stand out from the background.
The most common setup for lights is Three Point Lighting. The configuration consists of a key light, a fill light or side light, and a backlight or hair-light.
The key light is the primary light, the brightest of the three and provides the bulk of light to the subject. In the case of an interview, for example, it should be positioned behind the interviewer's shoulder, opposite the camera to illuminate the subject's face.
The fill or side light is used to tone down the shadows created by the key light. It makes the light across the subject's face even. The more fill light is used, the less contrast the image will have. Another way to use the fill light is having a reflector instead of an actual fill light.
The backlight or hair-light makes the subject stand out from the background, it adds depth to the image. The backlight can be a harsh light, used with no diffusion because it will not create evident shadows on the subject's face.
To control or modify our light sources we can use diffusion, CTO (Colour Temperature Orange), CTB (Colour Temperature Blue), ND Filter (Neutral Density), the barn doors on the lights.
Examples of the use of diffusion, creating a harsh light and a soft light.
CTO and CTB with colour gels over lights.
Example of ND Filters.
Lighting patterns examples using the key light:
If the key light is moved facing the subject directly, the image becomes even flat lighting look, meaning that the subject will be well light and no shadows will appear along the subject's face. As a result, the Flat Lighting is the least dramatic look one can achieve, since it doesn't give a lot of dimension or depth to the subject.
When the key light is moved up but still standing in front of the subject, we achieve the Paramount Lighting or Butterfly Lighting - referring to the shadow created under the nose that resembles a butterfly. Typically is a more feminine lighting technique because it accentuates the cheekbones and other appealing features.
A Loop lighting occurs when the key light is moved slightly to the side - the Butterfly shadow will eventually turn into a side nose shadow. Generally used in rounder face shapes because it makes the face appear longer and slimmer.
If continuing to move the key light even further, about 45 degrees from the camera, it creates the Rembrandt lighting effect - when the loop nose lighting fuses with the cheek shadow, creating a V shape on the cheek.
Split lighting occurs when the key light is moved completely to the side of the subject, at a 90-degree angle. It splits the face in half creating a very dramatic and masculine look.
Depending on where you position the camera as well, other lighting patterns are achieved. If the camera is moved to the broader side of the subject's face, the most lit side, is called Broad Light. When the camera is positioned on the darker side of the subject's face is called Short light or Dark side. Filming on the short side creates more drama and depth, reason why is more commonly used.
Techniques for a background lighting include allowing the other lights to spill on the background,
adding another artificial light source for the background alone. A common background lighting technique is called the Checkerboard light and it consists on lighting the background from the darker side of the subject's face and leave the background dark behind the bright side of the subject's face, creating depth by contrasting the light helping the subject to stand out from the background.
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