LIGHTINGFORVIDEO

LIGHTINGTERMINOLOGY

AmbientLight-Thelightalreadypresentinascene,beforeanyadditionallightisadded.Canbehelpfulorproblematicdependingonwhatyouwanttoachieve.•  Colortemp,intensity&directionofambientlightingshouldmatchyourset-up,ifit’saproblem,possible

solutionistoblockoutambientlightanduseonlyartificial.–  Ex:sunlight,lightenteringroomfromwindows,overheadlighting

IncidentLight-Lightseendirectlyfromit’ssource.

–  Ex:sunlight,lampsReflectedLight-Lightseenafterhavingbouncedoffasurface.

–  Ex:lightfromreflectors,walls,mirrors

ColorTemperature-astandardofmeasuringthecharacteristicsoflight,measuredinkelvins(K)ForVideo:relevanttempsare2000K–8000K,mostcommonlightingconditions

ContrastRatio-ameasurementofthedifferencebetweenthewhitestwhiteanddarkestblackwithinanimage.Ahighercontrastratio=largerdifferenceinbrightness.Aratioof300:1meansthebrightestpointinimageis300Xasbrightasthedarkestpoint.

Videosuckscomparedtoyoureyes…haveyoueverpulledoutyourphone/cameratorecordsomethingandthelightingisawfulonyourcamerabutyoucanseeitperfectly?

Generallyhasarelativelylowcontrastratio.Possiblesolutions:Avoidsuperbright/darkcontrastsinyourshot.Addlightingtodarkareas/filterbrightareas.

LIGHTINGTERMINOLOGY(3-pointlighting)

KeyLight-Mainlightonsubject,providesmostilluminationandcontrastFillLight-Lightplacedtosideofsubject,filloutshadowsandbalancekeylightBackLight-Lightplacedattherearofsubject,lightsfrombehind

HardLight–“hardandunforgiving”Lightdirectlyfromthesource;castsstrong,well-definedshadows–  HardLightexample:noon-daysunishardestlightinnature

SoftLight– Produceslessorsoftershadows,appearstowraparoundsubject.AKA“beautylighting”

HardLighting SoftLighting

Spot– controlled,narrowlyfocusedbeamoflightFlood–broadbeamoflight,lessdirectionalandintenseasspotFresnel– specialtypeoflens,lightcanbespreadoutorconcentrated

CONTINUOUSLIGHTING(FORVIDEO)

Flourescent

HMI(HydragyrumMedium-arcIodide)

LED

Tungsten

Tungsten(withFresnelLens)

•  Tungstenisatypicallightbulb,alsocalledincandescentlight

•  Produceshighestvolumesoflight(alsoproducesmostheat)

•  Balancedfor3200– 3400K(warmerthandaylight)

HMI(withFresnelLens)Lightofchoiceformovie/TVproductionsLargeoutputofdaylightbalancedlight(5600K)SuperexpensiveProneto“non-passivefailure”ifnotusedasdirected(AKAExploding)Thisparticularlightis~13,000$

FlourescentAffordable!AvailabledaylightbalancedRuncool,won’tjackupyourutilitiesbillLowerlightoutput,usemore

LEDAvailabledaylightbalancedQualityvaries,soresearchbeforepurchase.Runcool,lastalongtimeCompact,easyportability

DIY/OtherLights

HalogenworklampsPROS:getthemathardwarestores,goodforusingaskeyfloodlightinlargerareas.CONS:notmadeforvideo/photolighting,you’llneedtousegelsordiffuserstoachievelightyouwant.

ChineselanternSoftlighting,cheap

BarnDoor

Gels,Diffusers

Snoot

Reflectors UmbrellaReflector/Diffuser

C47(clothespin)

Blackwrap&Flag