Lighting Lesson

One of the most vital aspects of cinematography is lighting: without decent lighting each scene will look amateurish and it may lose some of the effect which was intended. By using light in the appropriate way, it is possible to add tension and emotion by creating shadows and definition.

One of the most basic lighting techniques is '3 Point Lighting'. Although this method may not be particularly useful in the genre of horror, it can allow you to shoot good quality scenes. Its name is relevant to the technique, as three separate lights are used to illuminate the character, prop or setting.

The first light is called the 'key light', and this is the main source of illumination. The key light is usually placed at around a 45 degree angle away from the camera and is focused on the subject of the shot, brightening the face.

The second light is called the 'fill light', and this is there to accompany the key light. The fill light may be situated 45 degrees in the opposite direction from the camera, and its function is to eliminate shadows which may be created by the key light. It must also be less intense (so possibly placed further away) to ensure that there is not too much light.

The final light is placed behind the subject, and so is aptly named the 'back light'. This serves the purpose of eliminating the prospect of lack of definition or dimension with the character in shot, and so it defines the shoulders and head of a person to make them look 3D.

Obviously, although all three lights can be used simultaneously, it is often possible to use just one or two which can enable the creation of various effects. One good example which we are planning on using in our horror is to solely place the back light behind the character as she enters a room; this will create a silhouette of the girl, as well as shadows around the door.