Here is a slideshow telling you about the different types of lighting used in films.

1. Lighting
By Girish Jeebodhun

2. Lighting Set Up
This is a diagram of a standard
lighting setup that are used in films.
There are three different lights, the
back light,the key light and the fill
light. The lighting setup is sometimes
referred to as the three point lighting.

3. The Key Light
The key light is the brightest light
making it the most important
lighting.The key light highlights the
form and dimension of the object or
character.

4. The Fill Light
The fill light ,sometimes referred to as
the reflector, fills in any shadows that
the key light and the back light
creates.

5. The Back Light
The back light helps reduce the effect
of the key light on the subject
(counteracting). If a key light is not
used, the back light creates an
outline or dark silhouette or the
subject. This could be used to
conceal the identity of a character.

6. Different Lighting Sources
A lighting source is where the
main source of light is coming
from. There are three different
lighting sources:
● Underlighting
● Top Lighting
● Back Lighting

7. Underlighting
Underlighting is when the source of
light comes from below the subject.
This gives the audience an eerie
feeling as you only get the outlines of
the subject’s face. This type of
lighting is mainly used in Thrillers and
Horrors on the villains to make them
seem powerful.

8. Top Lighting
Top lighting is when the light source
comes from above the subject. This
also highlights features of the subject
just like underlighting but instead of
creating an eerie feeling, it creates an
innocence feeling as well as a
glamorous feeling.Thi is because the
light shines down like light from
heaven.

9. Back Lighting
Back lighting is when the source of
light comes from behind the subject.
Without the use of other lights, it
creates a silhouette of the subject.
This lighting can be used to hide
identity to create suspense.

10. Low Key & High Key Lighting

11. Low Key Lighting
Low Key lighting is created by using
the key light and the back light
together. This produces a contrast of
dark and light areas which form
shadows on the subject.

12. High Key Lighting
High Key Lighting involves the back,
key and fill light shining together to
create a more realistic and bright
picture.

13. How does Hitchcock use lighting in ‘Suspicion’ (1941)?
In an extract from ‘Suspicion’ by Alfred Hitchcock, there is a wide variety of
lightings used for different purposes. At the beginning, there is a key light coming
from the lamp shining on Lina’s face to show her beauty and innocence. We then
see a high angle of a masculine figure created by back lighting to hide the figure
identity who we then find out is Lina’s husband, Johnnie. After Johnnie gives Lina
the glas of milk, he gets up and walks into a low key lighting area. As he gets to
the door, there is a top lighting to show innocence that he is not really trying to
poison his wife.

14. Film Noir
Film Noir is a french term that was used by french film critics which describes the
characteristics of films made in Hollywood from 1941-1958. Film Noir translates to
Film black. This is when films looked dark and gloomy which shows the dark side
of human nature. The films used low key lighting to give a contrast between light
and dark and to also give make the picture sharper.

15. Examples of Film Noir

16. Lighting Set Up
This is a diagram of a standard
lighting setup that are used in films.
There are three different lights, the
back light,the key light and the fill
light. The lighting setup is sometimes
referred to as the three point lighting.

17. The Key Light
The key light is the brightest light
making it the most important
lighting.The key light highlights the
form and dimension of the object or
character.

18. The Fill Light
The fill light ,sometimes referred to as
the reflector, fills in any shadows that
the key light and the back light
creates.

19. The Back Light
The back light helps reduce the effect
of the key light on the subject
(counteracting). If a key light is not
used, the back light creates an
outline or dark silhouette or the
subject. This could be used to
conceal the identity of a character.

20. Different Lighting Sources
A lighting source is where the
main source of light is coming
from. There are three different
lighting sources:
● Underlighting
● Top Lighting
● Back Lighting

21. Underlighting
Underlighting is when the source of
light comes from below the subject.
This gives the audience an eerie
feeling as you only get the outlines of
the subject’s face. This type of
lighting is mainly used in Thrillers and
Horrors on the villains to make them
seem powerful.

22. Top Lighting
Top lighting is when the light source
comes from above the subject. This
also highlights features of the subject
just like underlighting but instead of
creating an eerie feeling, it creates an
innocence feeling as well as a
glamorous feeling.Thi is because the
light shines down like light from
heaven.

23. Back Lighting
Back lighting is when the source of
light comes from behind the subject.
Without the use of other lights, it
creates a silhouette of the subject.
This lighting can be used to hide
identity to create suspense.

24. Low Key & High Key Lighting

25. Low Key Lighting
Low Key lighting is created by using
the key light and the back light
together. This produces a contrast of
dark and light areas which form
shadows on the subject.

26. High Key Lighting
High Key Lighting involves the back,
key and fill light shining together to
create a more realistic and bright
picture.

27. How does Hitchcock use lighting in ‘Suspicion’ (1941)?
In an extract from ‘Suspicion’ by Alfred Hitchcock, there is a wide variety of
lightings used for different purposes. At the beginning, there is a key light coming
from the lamp shining on Lina’s face to show her beauty and innocence. We then
see a high angle of a masculine figure created by back lighting to hide the figure
identity who we then find out is Lina’s husband, Johnnie. After Johnnie gives Lina
the glas of milk, he gets up and walks into a low key lighting area. As he gets to
the door, there is a top lighting to show innocence that he is not really trying to
poison his wife.

28. Film Noir
Film Noir is a french term that was used by french film critics which describes the
characteristics of films made in Hollywood from 1941-1958. Film Noir translates to
Film black. This is when films looked dark and gloomy which shows the dark side
of human nature. The films used low key lighting to give a contrast between light
and dark and to also give make the picture sharper.

29. Examples of Film Noir