Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.

html

Home Funding/Grants Jobs Production Gear Filmmaking Tips Store

Se arch De skt o p Do cume ntarie s

►Video Lighting
Share
Lighting for Video
► LED Lighting Lamps Three-point lighting diagram | Simple techniques to
► Ceiling Lighting
dramatically improve your footage HOT!
Share | Share
Share
Share
Share Documentary
Lighting for video and documentary doesn’t have to be
What's New?
complicated. Filmmaking Tools
If you are a DIY filmmaker like me, you’re looking
Documentary Basics for: The least complicated lighting set-up that creates
the best results at the lowest cost!
Making A Documentary

Filmmaking 101 Here’s a great little video that illustrates just how
simple lighting for video can be.
Documentary Ideas
Sony HXR-NX30U
Documentary Tips Camcorder
“Three options for lighting your video”
Directing Tips

Scriptwriting Tips

Video Editing Tips

Videography Tips

Lighting Tips

Audio Tips
Canon EOS 7D (HD Video
Recording)
Documentary Tools

Digital Video Essentials

Camcorders

DVD & Blu-ray

Free Film Clips

Documentary
Business
2275 Watt Digital Video
Film Funding & Grants Led Lighting Continuous Softbox
Find Quality Products from Verified Manufacturers.Get a Live Quote Now! Lighting Kit/Boom Set
Distributing Your Film www.Alibaba.com

Copyright, Legal, LLC

Video Editing Computer
Music Rights The Basics: Three-point Lighting
Participate If you’ve ever visited a movie set, you know how complicated lighting can

1 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

Submit Your Film get. But it all starts here with the basic fundamentals of the 3-point lighting
set-up.
Submit A Review
1. KEY – The key light is your main and strongest source of light. This can
Write An Article
be the sun or an electrical light source. Apple MacBook Pro
Ask A Question
Laptop
2. FILL – This is your second light source, softer than your key light, which
About Us crosses the key light to “fill” the strong shadows created by your main MORE...
light source. This can be a reflector or an electric light. Video Editing Computers
About

Production Services 3. BACK – The back light is used to separate the subject from background.
It makes the scene look more three-dimensional. Sometimes you can
Get Our Newsletter
use the “setting sun” as your back light or another light source. Like Desktop
Documentaries?
[?]Subscribe To This Please Tell A Friend
Site
Share

Using Available Light

Most Popular
Using available light is key for the documentary filmmaker on a budget or
short on time. Sunlight coming through a window literally becomes your KEY Documentary Ideas
light. See diagram below. Filmmaking Gear
Scriptwriting Basics
Using light from a window, position your subject about 30-degrees, not Free Film Clips
directly facing the window. A 30-degree angle creates a natural look and Documentary Grants
helps bring out some details in the facial features and creates a more natural
look (shining a light directly on the face “flattens” the features).

2 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

Share

Desktop
6 Documentaries:
DIY
Filmmaking,
► Hot Video ► Audio Video ► Video Edit ► Video Movie How To Make A
Documentary
Does the KEY light create too much contrast and Like

shadow? 725 people like Desktop

Documentaries: DIY Filmmaking,
How To Make A Documentary.
If so, use a “fill” light to balance out the “key” light. A fill light can be created
simply with a reflecting device such as a piece of white foam board or
reflector… it “bounces” light from the key source to create the “fill” light.

Filmmaking Gear
Ugly Overhead Lighting
Microphones
When the natural light available is coming from overhead, like a hanging light
bulb or fluorescent light, it can make the image look very flat (and ugly). Try Mini-Video Camcorders
using a reflector in this situation to “bounce back” light into the subject’s
eyes or another light source to fill in the shadows created by the overhead Video Editing Computers
light.
10 Filmmaking Video
Apps

Filmmaking Tools Quick Links iPhone Movies Tools

Documentary Equipment
List

Video Editing Camcorders Video Editing Gear List

Computers Software

Don’t Forget Safety!

Electric lights can be dangerous, especially tungsten lights which can get
VERY hot. It is highly recommended to have a second person with you when
dealing with lights. Lights are unstable and can easily fall or get pulled

3 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

down.

Place chords out of walking areas if possible or tape them down so that Led Lighting
people won’t trip on them. www.Alibaba.com
Find Quality
Keep lights away from entrances where they can get knocked over by a Products from
door opening. Verified
Manufacturers.Get
Make sure there is nothing flammable around the light or you risk a Live Quote Now!
starting a fire.

Let the lights cool down after they’ve been switched off. How many
times have I been burned on those darn things!? Ouch!

Lighting Equipment
Share

Basic Lighting Kit:

3 lights & 3 stands

Gels & diffusers

Crocodile clips or wood clothes

pins

Extension Cables

Low-Cost Video Lighting Tips Lighting for Video

On A Budget
Here are some additional low cost alternatives when lighting for video:

1. Halogen garden lamps – great for flooding a room with light.

2. A 100-Watt bulb under a large paper lampshade such as a China

Lantern (see below) – creates nice soft lighting.

3. Battery-powered lights. A cheap, battery powered light that sits on

top of your camera is useful when there’s no electric sources nearby.
However, a simple light on top of your camera does not create the best A Shot in the Dark: A
results (it’s just flat head-on lighting & not very natural looking). But it Creative DIY Guide to
will do in a pinch and it’s better than nothing! Digital Video Lighting on
(Almost) No Budget

Low Cost Lighting: China Lanterns

4 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

Shop for Video Lighting

Final Thoughts
When lighting for video and documentary, even a few simple lighting
adjustments can make a huge difference.

Documentary Filmmaking Gear Check-List.

Related Articles
Making Documentaries: A Step-By-Step Guide
Share
Top Ten Tips For Shooting Great Footage
Audio Basics 101
How To Choose The Best Camcorder
Video Lighting Techniques

Return Home to Desktop Documentaries from Lighting for Video

Lighting for Video, Film and Documentaries

New! Comments
19 comments have already been left on our site. Let us know your thoughts
about Desktop Documentaries or what you've just read. Leave a comment in
the box below.

5 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

Add a comment...

Post to Facebook Posting as Prakash Willy (Change)

Dillon Naicker · Johannesburg, Gauteng

God bless you for all you give through this site! Thank you!
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · March 6, 2012 at 10:17pm

Deekay J. Sar · Cape Town, Western Cape

After much search on the basics of document making a found this little gem.
Informative and easy on the mind. In every aspect of living there is the is a
consciousness that the best ideas comes from the best equipped people.
Desktop Documentaries are changing that because there are more stories to be
told other than the ones we usually see. Great work! Desktop Documentaries is
a beacon in information for future documentary makers.
Reply · 3 · Like · Follow Post · September 13, 2011 at 4:26am

Marshal Tembo · GM at Temchi & Marshal's Mart

I love this site.
Share Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · December 27, 2011 at 10:33pm

Sabrina Aviles · Film Producer at Freelance Filmmaker

I am a professional filmmaker, and I applaud this site for detailing the ABC's of
documentary filmmaker. It serves as my own checklist as I continue making my
own films... Thanks!
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · January 18, 2012 at 9:20pm

Sarah Glenn
Wonderful to learn that the great mysteries of video making are so easily
manageable! I am grateful for this resource that gives me a DIY option when
faced with VERY inflated prices from professional film makers.
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · January 23, 2012 at 9:47am

Rin King Lion · National University of Management

I love this site. This is the basic of video maker.
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · January 31, 2012 at 8:37am

Charles En Charmaine Dick · National Operations Coordinator at Emergency

Services Chaplain South Africa
Very usefull site.
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · March 17, 2012 at 8:58pm

Dave Photos · Senior couch pototo at Never bothered

Great site and some good tips, just made a little video.
http://youtu.be/_3FlYPIGvao
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · April 26, 2012 at 4:29pm

Durba Nanda · Follow · Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan

I am a painter; want to make some documentary films. This sight is a lighthouse
to me.
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · July 22, 2012 at 12:11pm

Coco Patiance Malefe Moiloa · Cetc

thanx a lot these helped t me to complite my assignment!
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · November 9, 2012 at 10:18am

Raghav Chauhan · Follow · Casting Director at Aksh Film Production Pvt.Ltd.

It's
wonderful.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · April 22 at 1:03pm

Facebook social plugin

Share this page:

What's This?

Enjoy this page? Here's another way to pay it forward...

6 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM
Lighting for Video | Three-Point Lighting Diagram http://www.desktop-documentaries.com/lighting-for-video.html

Need money for your documentary?

Documentary Fundraising Kit | Privacy Policy | Disclosure

Site Feedback | About | Store | Site Map | Affiliates | Contact Us

Copyright© 2008-2013 Desktop-Documentaries.com. All rights reserved.

Powered by Site Build It.

Share

7 of 7 6/6/2013 5:20 PM