Lesson 1 - close veiwing - lighting techniques Flashcards
Back lighting
A character is lit from behind, e.g. a figure standing in a doorway. Makes the character appear
as a silhouette. We get a sense of the figure’s shape, without seeing any detail. May be used to
create a sense of mystery, or perhaps a sense of the character being threatening, intimidating
or sinister.
Up lightning
A figure is lit from beneath, e.g. when you shine a torchlight up on your face when telling
horror stories. Makes the face of the character appear scary or sinister.
Side lightning
Where one half of a character’s face is lit up, and the other half remains in darkness. Used to
make the character appear sinister or threatening. Can also be used to suggest a division in
the character’s personality (e.g. between darkness and light, good and evil, certainty and
indecision).
Color filter
Directors sometimes use colour filter to create the effect of a particular shot or scene being
saturated in colour. The choice of colour will always be purposeful. For example, a bar scene
in which red colour filter is used may create the effect of the bar being a sleazy or potentially
dangerous place.
High key lighting
This is where the scene is brightly lit; there will be very little shadow and a low-level of
contrast. Scenes with very high-key lighting can appear ‘washed out’ and highly suffused
with light.
Low key lighting
The opposite effect of high key lighting: lighting is kept to a minimum, resulting in the scene
being very dark. This effect is often used in noir films and horror films, as it creates a sense
of mystery and foreboding for the viewer.
Natural lighting
This is where the film-makers work with a natural light source (the Sun) to create a natural,
non-theatrical lighting effect. Natural lighting can enhance the level of believability in a
scene as it comes closest to the kind of lighting we are familiar with in everyday life.
