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Lighting
Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis
 3 Point Lighting
Remember the traditional
3 point lighting setup?

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 3 Point Lighting
Remember the traditional
3 point lighting setup?
By varying the position of
key, fill and backlights you
can change the mood
dramatically.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Low Angle Key
Low angle key light
from below the chin
area gives the
mysterious,
“Frankenstein” look to
the subject.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Low Angle Key
Low angle key light
from below the chin
area gives the
mysterious,
“Frankenstein” look to
the subject.
If the light is a soft
light, it can give a
sensuous appearance
to the subject.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 High Angle Key
High angle key
lighting can look
dreary if the subject
looks forward.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 High Angle Key
High angle key
lighting can look
dreary if the subject
looks forward.
Or can look moody
and mysterious when
the subject looks
down.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 High Angle Key
High angle key
lighting can look
dreary if the subject
looks forward.
Or can look moody
and mysterious when
the subject looks
down.
And spiritual when the
subject looks up.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Side Light Key
Side light key is
placed at 90° to the
subject to create a
stark and dramatic
lighting effect.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Far Side Key
Far side key has the
key light set to the far
side of the subject’s
beyond the far eye.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Far Side Key
Far side key has the
key light set to the far
side of the subject’s
beyond the far eye.
It is also known as
“Rembrandt” lighting
after the famous
painter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rembrandt_lighting

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Near Side Key
Near side key is
placed from the
camera side of the
face leaving the front
of the face in partial
shadow.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly lighting
places the key light
at a high angle and
front on to the
subject creating a
“butterfly” shadow
under the subjects
nose.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly lighting
places the key light at
a high angle and
front on to the subject
creating a “butterfly”
shadow under the
subjects nose.
This is classic
Hollywood glamour
lighting.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Backlight Variations
The same as there are a number of key
light variations there are a number of
backlight variations as well.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Glow Light
The glow light is positioned
from the side and creates a
little glow on shadow side of
the face.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Liner Light
A liner light is similar to a
kicker, but is placed far
enough forward that it does
not create any sheen
(specular reflection) on the
face.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Kicker Light
The kicker creates a sheen
(specular reflection) on the
cheek as the camera sees the
face.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Rim Light
The rim light is positioned
behind and slightly to the left
or right of the subject.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Rim Light
The rim light is positioned behind
and slightly to the left or right of
the subject.
It creates a separation from the
background on one side of the
subject.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Backlight
Backlight illuminates the
subject from behind and helps
to separate them from the
background.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Godfather” Lighting
Remember
eyelight?

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Godfather” Lighting
“Godfather” lighting is the
opposite of the eyelight.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Godfather” Lighting
“Godfather” lighting is the
opposite of the eyelight.
Uses overhead softlights
with little or no fill light.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Godfather” Lighting
“Godfather” lighting is the
opposite of the eyelight.
Uses overhead softlights
with little or no fill light.
This results in eyes which
are deep in shadow.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Godfather” Lighting
“Godfather” lighting is the
opposite of the eyelight.
Uses overhead softlights
with little or no fill light.
This results in eyes which
are deep in shadow.
This was used
extensively in “The
Godfather” movie hence
the name.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Mood” Lighting
The use of light
against darker areas
was made famous by
the Italian artist
Michelangelo
Caravaggio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio
“Narcissus” by Caravaggio

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Mood” Lighting
The use of light
against darker areas
was made famous by
the Italian artist
Michelangelo
Caravaggio

This technique is
known as chiaroscuro
in painting.
“Judith Beheading Holofernes” by Caravaggio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Checkerboard” Lighting
“Checkerboard” lighting
directs the light on the
subject and background
in a way that creates
alternating light and
dark areas.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Checkerboard” Lighting
“Checkerboard” lighting
directs the light on the
subject and background
in a way that creates
alternating light and
dark areas.

This technique
modelled after
chiaroscuro employs
light and dark areas to
suggest depth.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Window” Lighting
The 17th century
Dutch artist
Johannes Vermeer
used the window
light in his studio to
light many of his
subjects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermeer
“Woman with a Balance” by Vermeer

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Window” Lighting
The 17th century
Dutch artist
Johannes Vermeer
used the window
light in his studio to
light many of his
subjects.

“The Glass of Wine” by Vermeer

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Window” Lighting
“Window” light is soft
yet directional light.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 “Window” Lighting
“Window” light is soft
yet directional light.
It can be created
with a large area of
diffused light or using
a light bounced into
a polystyrene board
(poly) or a white
board of some other
kind.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

“Window” Lighting

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

“Window” Lighting

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

“Window” Lighting

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Back Cross Key Lighting
Back cross key
lighting is an effective
way of lighting 2
people with 2 lights
rather than 4.

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis

 Back Cross Key Lighting
Back cross key lighting
is an effective way of
lighting 2 people with 2
lights rather than 4.
Each light acts as both
a key light (for the
person farther from the
light ), and a backlight
(for the person nearer
to the same light).

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 Mic Collis