EXTRA WORK - MEDIA AS

1. BY NATHAN INCLES

2. Lighting or an illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a
practical or aesthetic effect.
Typically, it may be used by directors to enhance mood, atmosphere
and drama; to illuminate the story; to separate plans; to suggest
depth; to direct attention; to reveal the character; to convey time; to
enrich and occasionally bedazzle.

3.  High Key Lighting refers to a low contrast lighting style that is used
to brighten up everything within the frame and cut down on
shadows. With high key lighting, every person in the scene, as well
as every object get the same amount of light so that everything looks
somewhat ‘even’. The advantage of High Key Lighting is that it also
cuts down on shooting time as there is no need for a complex set up
of lights. Sometimes, high key lighting is used to represent what
audience members may consider to be a ‘natural’ scenario.
 What films consist of High Key Lighting the most? Comedies, where
there is generally no need for a complex mood which include visuals.
 Examples are: Hot Fuzz and Clerks. From the
‘Wizard Of Oz’

4.  Low Key Lighting is all about shadows. If a
director of a film wants to convey drama,
tension, and darkness they will choose Low
Key lighting for more high contrasting
visuals. As opposed to the three point
lighting scheme, this type of set up will
often only use one light, sending harsh
shadows upon anything that is not
illuminated. Calculating a Low Key set up
can take more time, but the results can be
visually stunning and more effective in
conveying a message.
 Conventionally, Horror films and the odd
Thriller film use low key lighting.
 Examples of which are, ‘The Omen’ and
‘Scream’.
An Example
of Low Key
Lighting

5.  Backlight is a term used in visual arts such as photography, film and
stage lighting that simply means “light that comes from behind”. A
light source placed on the opposite side of the “subject” (model,
actor) from a viewer’s (camera, audience) point of view. On a
conventional film set, this means lights that are hung upstage
(towards the rear of the stage) that shine back towards the acting
area.
 The angle of backlighting can vary from low down, right up to nearly
over the “subjects” head. Light directly overhead is referred to as
“toplight” or “downlight” and shares similar lighting qualities to
backlight.