• quality
• direction
• source
• color
• WHITE BALANCING THE CAMERA
• key-fill set up
• 3-point set-up
• Name and Role of each light in Set ups
• Practical Strategies for Outdoor Lighting, lighting effects, Use of Reflectors.

Lighting can be analyzed by the following four characteristics

1

QUALITY (relative focus of the illumination)

HARD Directed, focused light source Parallel light rays causing clearly defined shadows, sharp edges, crisp textures  Created by sun light at noon or by a light source which is lensed, like as Fresnel light (spot light).

SOFT Diffused, unfocused light source Creates softer shadows, blurred contours and textures Created by overcast sky or light source which is softened by a diffusion filter, gel, or scrim.

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2

DIRECTION (path from source to object lit)

frontal - eliminates shadows, flat,  sidelight - sculpts features of subject back light - from behind the subject -  when used alone, it creates silhouettes when used in combination with other (frontal)  lights, creates a contour around subject (rim of light) under lighting - distorts, horror, fireplace... top light - glamour (accentuates cheekbones) or darkened noir (as in single bulb hanging above the detective) [top]

 
3

SOURCE (From what source does the light come from? What is the lighting contrast ratio?)

High Key:  lighting set up that is uniformly bright  It comes from many sources to create lighting which is flat - not a lot of contrast between bright spots and shadows usually used for comedies, light dramas, adventure films. daylight, indoor at a supermarket, the classroom, most common studio lighting set up

Low Key:  lighting which has high contrast ratios It comes from realtively few soursces to create a set up that is mostly dark with some clearly defined bright areas Often with hard lighting - but NOT ALWAYS aka "chiaroscuro" - dark darks and bright spots of light. film noir, mystery, studio work in Zed TV on CBC

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4

COLOR Different colors can create different emotions, moods, and illusions.

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TYPICAL LIGHTING SET UP
(3-point lighting)

FOLLOW THESE LINKS FOR EXTERNAL TUTORIALS ON 3-Point Lighting, Key Lights,

Fill Light, Back Light, and Background Light

• KEY LIGHT:

• The primary light
• the dominant source of illumination. 
• brightest
• In set-up, it's usu. 45 degree angle to camera

• FILL LIGHT:

• less intense than key
• fills in, softening or eliminating shadows - i.e. lessens contrasts.
• usually next to the camera or at 45 degree ablge to camera opposite the location of the key light.
• Fill could be provided by a bounce card or reflector to reflect a soft light on subject.

• BACK LIGHT:

• comes from behind and above the subject
• usually opposite the key light.
• used in studio productions
• when used with key and fill, it creates a rim around subject (glamorous)
• creates spatial relief - separates subject from background.
• creates a sense of depth

• BACKGROUND LIGHTS or SET LIGHTS:

• used to illuminate the set or the background (walls, furniture, etc)

• SPOT HIGHLIGHTS or EFFECTS LIGHTS

• extra light that accents a portion of the setting with intense or patterned lights for dramatic effects
• blinds on a wall, e.g.

• PRACTICALS

• any light that is already in the picture.
• Although they can provide light to illuminate the scene, they do not necessarily have to, they're often used to just give the illusion of light. 
• candles, a small desk lamp, matches. etc...

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