There are many different types of things you can do with light, and it depends on how many you want to use and what angles you want to position them. For this we experimented with three and four point lighting, and showing the different types of effects you get when you use them at the same and different times.
One point lighting - Key light
With one point lighting, it acts as like a spot light on the subject, lighting only on them. This is an example, taken by Nick Lockett.
Here he has taken a picture of David Beckham. You can see he has positioned the light coming straight on to him, coming from the left of the camera.
One point lighting can create moody and also clean images, depending on the look you are trying to achieve. From a low point, you can create moods like this image, also taken by Nick Lockett.
Here you can see he has pulled the light round on a side angle, so its not highlighting the background. The angle in which Depp is lit, creates a glow on the side of his face, so it doesnt look as if he is stamped onto the background, it lifts him off slightly.
The correct set up for three point lighting is:
- Key light - The main light, basic exposure
- Fill light - fills in the shadows, 1 and half f stops less
- Back/Rim light - Separates the subject from the background, 1 f stop more
When the fourth light is added, it acts as an extra back light, but is used to illuminate the backdrop.
We did some practice lighting of our own, for both video and stills. For the video lighting, we set up a four point lighting set, surrounding a subject.
Here is a diagram i drew from the filming practice. You can see where the lights were all positioned between the backdrop and the camera. As a group, we experimented with moving the lights around, bringing them higher than the subject. We used a small LED lighting kit, which had adjustments built in, depending on if you wanted the temperature of the image to look warm or cold.
High key light, shining above, low backdrop light, high rim light, shinning on her hair, no fill light.
Key light, dim fill light, low backdrop light, high rim light
Key light, Fill light off, High rim light, backdrop light
Key light off, high fill light on blue tones, high rim light, low backdrop light
We experimented with different tones and positioning of the lights, to create different looks on the subject. We created the classic interview look and then played with it to create soft and menacing looks to her face.
We then went over and played with still images, experimenting first using a key spot light using Gobos. We used a lines pattern, inserted into then light reflecting on to the subject. To make sure we had the correct exposure on the camera, we used a light meter. There are two different ways to make the light metre work. You can use a cable attached between the reader and the light and when you press the button to check the reading the light will flash automatically. The other way is making sure you have someone with you to press a button on the light at the same time you hold the meter to the subject, so it flashes at the same time. Our reading for this particular shoot was set to f5.6.
We then added a fill light on the left hand side, set to f2.8.
We then put the key and fill lights on together to create this effect.
This creates a much more filled in photo, showing more detail to the subject, but he is blended into the background and loses detail in his hair. We then turned on a back light set at f0.8.
By only having the back light on, you can see all the outlines of the subject, bringing detail into his hair and shoulders which was lost when we only had the fill and key lights on. We then put all three lights on at the same time.
Here, you can now see the effect having all three lights have on the subject. He is no longer blending into the background and now stands out, looking 3D. the fill light brings out all the detail lost previously in his arms and the key light is brightest on his face, the main focal point of the image.
