Lighting is always a key issue in cinematography. While it's not challenging to learn, but you must learn to see lighting issues right away. Lighting for film is always very tricky and it's absolutely necessary to use a light meter. With film there is a question of the color of the light as well.
With video, the problems with shadow, glare, and color temperature, become much easier to deal with. Film may be challenging, but when it is lit and shot properly it's heaven. That said, in the beginning it is probably more feasible and realistic to shoot with a digital video camera.
Hot Spots
While there may be areas that don't have adequate light, it is also problematic to have areas with too much light. These areas are termed "hot" and are dealt with via some sort of diffusion material, that takes glare off of the subject. These are the major lighting problems you will be dealing with.
Using a Monitor
It will make your life a lot easier if you have a monitor set up at the scene location. You should have a fairly good a person who can give you a true representation of what you are taping. Shooting with film demands a Light Meter and a Color Temperature Meter. In digital recording you can use the monitor to tell you you will need to know. You will see the areas that have lighting problems that need to be fixed.
By looking at the monitor, you can detect problems of light and dark and easily fix them. Another lighting issue that arises is the color of the light in your picture. Different kinds of lighting will have a range of colors.
Types of Light
Household Tungsten lights have a yellow glow. If you want that yellow color in the picture that is fine, but if not, one can color correct with digital formats filters during the edit.
Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting can be a disaster depending on how bright it is and how close it is to the subject. Fluorescent lighting throws off a greenish cast and can be very unflattering to the subject. The whole pea soup complexion thing is inclined to to really make the talent have an appearance that is just ugly.
Natural Outdoor Light
Outdoor Sunlit lighting will sometimes be a problem. Refer to your monitor. Outside daylight gives off a blue cast. This will be especially evident at times when shooting into shady area. Any grass or foliage in the picture will exaggerate the blue cast.
Halogen Lights
Halogen lights are reputed to have a pink glow to them. Halogen lighting is not as prevalent as other kinds of light, but will likely be uses for outdoor night shots since Halogen is used for night-time outdoor lighting.
Suggesting Time of Day
Lighting suggests what time of day it is. It gives people have a sense if the sun is setting, if it is raining outside, and so on.
Light Conveys Mood
Be aware of the conditions in the screenplay that will demand certain types of lighting. A flashlight in the dark or headlights will telegraph things about to happen. One ca create tension and suspense or a feeling of light-hearted glee with lighting. Cinamatographers learn to convey a romantic atmosphere, an workday at the office feeling, a manic party atmosphere, all by how scenes are lit.
Importance of Lighting Consistency in Films
A shot is only good if the right the kind lighting of lighting that a shot demands is effectively applied. Each shots has different lighting requirements. Accomplishing the right kind of lighting set-ups for the entire duration of the film is essential to create a film of consistently good quality. To accomplish this, it is vital to mark down the color of the light when you begin the shoot and to continue everything consistently well throughout the shoots.
This will keep you from having to fix inconsistencies in post-production, which is sometimes impossible to prevent, but if you are really good that won't happen.
Preproduction Lighting Notes are Crucial
When you make a few short films you will find that it is crucial to note down lighting details, light color, lighting temperature, in production notes. It can be a real pain when you are editing and you have change color ranges from edit to edit. It can be fatal to the continuity in your film.
If there is an over all problem with the color of the light in your production, your digital software may have color correction filters and that can take care of it during editing in post production. Once when only shooting with film, filters had to be used over the lens at the time of shooting and it was significantly harder to accomplish what can now successfully executed with digital editing.
Three Point Lighting
Three-point lighting is the standard lighting setup and applied in all film and television production. It is always better to have good natural lighting, but if you do not have good natural light available then this is at places you start.
Three-point lighting consists of the following:
Key Light
Your key light is the main light shining on your subject. Be careful not to have it too close to the subject since it can create hot areas and glare.
Fill Light
Your Key light usually creates a harsh light that renders a distinct shadow. The best way to get rid of that shadow is to use your Fill light.
Kicker Light
The Kicker light is applied behind the subject to fill in the shadows there. Using the kicker light can give the subject dimension.
Lighting Kit
When you purchase supplies for your light kit, the lights mentioned are the primary lights that you will need. You will also be in need of means to apply diffusion material. If you have a screen door or window, look at the light outside without the screen in front of it. Do you see how bright and vivid it is? Then shut the screen door or window and you will how the lighting is naturally diffused and becomes darker. This is what you are doing at what time you are using lighting diffusers in a scene.
Light Diffusion
There are a number of ways to achieve light diffusion. In a light kit, it is wise to include gauzy material like cheesecloth, muslin, or a material that is white and gauzy materials to diffuse. You use binder clips and makeshift scrim stands. "Scrim" is another word for a diffuser material. Filmmakers have used such things old 3-legged music stands and binder clips to create scrim stands to diffuse the light passing through them.
Filming in Natural Lighting
Filming in natural lighting tends to be favorable, but presents difficulties of its own. From 10 am to 3 pm in the afternoon, the sun creates harsh shadows under the eyes and nose of the subject. This can be remedied using fill lights under the subjects' faces.
The Best Natural Lighting
The best natural lighting is the lighting that comes at the end of the day, a couple of hours before sunset. This lighting has golden caramel-colored glow and gives everything a halo. The sun is a t a perfect angle for the filming, creating light that falls directly on the subject's face.
Sunset lighting is really good for portraying moments of sentimental and romantic moments. However, at this time of day, it is absolutely imperative to shoot fast since there will not be much time to execute shots. Make sure everything is ready in anticipation of the sunset lighting.
Dealing With Lighting Challenges
During filming, some kinds of sets are extremely challenging to light properly, and may make it necessary to find creative solutions to deal with problems. Taking a trip to the hardware store will in some cases help you find ways to resolve lighting problems. Lighting is something that has to be practiced. Anyone who expects to light everything perfectly on the day of the shoot without any setbacks or gliches will be in for a nasty surprise. You must work with your lights first and take test runs.
Electrical Requirements
It is crucial to ensure that electrical requirements are met for lighting. Lights demand a lot of energy, so it is a good idea to make sure that you will not be shorting out the system, or even an the entire block, as a result of trying to light the set. Check with an electrician about this.
Safety
Remember -- these lights are hot. Protect yourself and others. Also, you may have an occasional bulb popping and spraying glass everywhere. This seldom happens, but it truly is better to be safe than sorry.
You must do everything that a person can to be safe. There are going to be cords everywhere on the ground or floor during the shoot. You will have people running everywhere so secure down all your cords firmly and make people aware of at which location they are located.
A person can use gaffer's tape on the electrical cords to continue them in place. Gaffer's tape is more expensive and doesn't leave marks on walls on floors. You can use duct tape in a pinch but gaffer's tape is best.
Let There Be Light
Light is everything we see has the utmost impact on every aspect of a film. Don't treat light lightly. But, lighten. Movies are suppose to be fun. Enjoy the learning process in letting lighting on the subject.
A Little Light on the Subject, Whether Shooting on Film or Video by Adam Fulford. Adam Fulford enjoys writing articles and screenplays, and has a production company to produce original documentariesand dramas. Article Directory: Article Dashboard
