Lighting

 Today in class our media studies sir gave us a lecture on cinematic lighting.

1. 1. Place your main and strongest source of light, called a key light off to one side of the actor to create a slight shadow on the opposite side of their face.
2. 2. Add a second light, called a fill light, on the opposite side of the actor to soften any harsh shadows created by the key light.
3. 3. Place a third light, a backlight, behind the actor to help define and highlight their features and outlines.

1. 1. Key lighting is the main—and strongest—light source in a scene or on the actor.
2. 2. Fill lighting adds dimension and softens harsh shadows created by the key light.
3. 3. Backlighting is placed behind the actor to help define their features and distinguish them from the background.
4. 4. Side lighting lights the actor from the side and focuses on the contours of their face for a high-contrast dramatic effect.
5. 5. Practical lighting is a light source that is visible within the scene like lamps, light fixtures, candles, and television sets. They’re not usually strong enough to light a subject, but they add to the cinematic ambiance of the scene.
6. 6. Hard lighting is a lighting aesthetic with harsh shadows that draws attention to a specific actor or part of a scene.
7. 7. Soft lighting is a lighting aesthetic with little to no harsh shadows that’s bright yet balanced.
8. 8. High-key lighting is a lighting aesthetic with no shadows and intense brightness, bordering on overexposure. You’ll commonly see high-key lighting in a television sitcom, a music video, or a commercial.
9. 9. Low-key lighting is a lighting aesthetic with a lot of shadows to create a sense of mystery or suspense.
10. 10. Natural lighting uses and modifies the available light at the location of the shoot.
11. 11. Motivated lighting is a controlled lighting technique meant to imitate natural light sources in the scene like the sun or the moon.
12. 12. Bounce lighting is a technique where light is bounced from a strong source toward the actor with a reflector, which soften and spread the light.

Lighting a scene requires trial and error. Take time to experiment with three-point lighting, soft light, hard light, low-key light, and high-key light to find the right balance of light and shadows for your shot.