Lighting for Video Production

1. Lighting for Video Production
The Basics

2. What Can We Do With Light?
Reflect (bounce)
Refract (focus/bend)
Absorb (stop)
Filter (change the intensity, color, texture)

3. Three-Point Lighting
Key Light - Primary light. Highlights surface
and form details. 45° from the subject’s
front, pointing down at a 45° angle.
Fill Light - Fills in the harsh shadows of the
key light. Placed opposite the key light, and
pointed at a 30° angle.
Backlight (aka hair or rim light) - Separates
the subject from the background. Placed
behind the subject and on a 45° angle.

5. Attributes of Light

6. Intensity
High Key - Almost entire frame is filled
with light.
Low Key - Most of the frame is in
darkness which produces a dramatic
effect.

7. Direction/Angle
The direction from which light
strikes the subject.

8. Texture/Quality
Caused by the size and position of the
light source.
Hard light is unflattering (Mid-day Sun,
Refracted Light, Focused Spotlight)
Soft light is flattering (Reflected &
Diffused Light)
The Magic/Golden Hour occurs 30
min after sunrise & before sunset

9. Color
Temperature
Measured in Kelvins (k)
Sunlight = 5600k = Blue
Light Bulb = 3200k = orange

10. Lighting Equipment

11. Lighting Units
Open-Faced - Bare lamp with a reflector
behind it. Produces a hard light.
Fresnel (freh-nel) - Stepped convex lens
in front of the lamp that can focus the
light.
Softlight - Diffuses the light coming from
the lamp, and produces a soft light. Light
wraps around the subject but falls off
quickly.

12. Kinds of Lamps
Incandescent (Tungsten) - 3200K, continuous light source (no flicker)
Fluorescent - radiant emission light source (non-continuous, flickers
faster than the eye can see but can be seen if shooting a high frame
rate)
HMI - 5600k (flicker and making a humming sound)
LED - can adjust the color temperature (more lumens per watt than
other bulbs, generates very little heat, and bulbs can last almost 50
years BUT don’t have all the wavelengths of color)

13. Accessories
Light stand - holds a light
C-Stand (Grip Stand) - can hold
lights or lighting modifiers
Gobo head and arm - connect to c-
stands that hold lighting modifiers
Sandbags - keep light stands and
c-stands from falling over

14. Lighting Modifiers

15. Reflectors
Used to bounce light onto
subject.
Types of reflectors include
umbrellas, flex fills, and bounce
boards.
Umbrella Flex Fill
Bounce
Board

16. Absorbers
Used to block light.
Types of absorbers include flags,
duvetine, and black wrap.
Flag
Duvetine
Black Wrap

17. Refractors
Used to direct light.
Types of refractors include barn
doors, snoots, & grids
Barn Doors
Snoot
Grid

18. Filters/Gobos
Filters/Gobos change the intensity,
color, or texture of the light source.
Called “Gobos” because they go
between the light source and the
subject.
Diffusion decreases the intensity of
light, and includes includes filters, soft
boxes, silks, scrims, and nets.
Gels add color to the light.
Cookies add texture to the light.
Soft
box
Filters
Silk
Net
Scrims
CookieGels