Enhancing and Restoring Safety & Quality Cultures - Dave Litwiller - May 2024...
Session 7 lighting in film: Film Appreciation Course
1. Shedding Light on the Subject
Film Appreciation/ Basic Photography
Mass Communication Department
2.
3.
4. Form vs Function
We see what we expect
to see, instead of what
is there.
We see function, not
form.
The camera doesn’t
know about function, it
only sees form.
5. To see what the camera sees
Secret: look not for
function, but for
shapes, forms, the way
lights hit the subject,
highlights, shadows,
contrast, color and
relationship of subject
to other things in the
field of view.
6. Overview
Light and Shadow
Light Source Position
Light Direction
Light Ratio
Hard Light and Soft Light
8. Light and Shadow
Take note of the
following:
Light Source: where
it’s coming from?
Where highlights and
shadows fall?
9. Frontlighting
“Shoot with sun behind
you”
“safe” lighting: bright and
shadow-free photo
Flat, shadow-less photo
No texture and depth, less
dramatic
Nothing is hidden in
shadows
(a) Up lighting
(b) Down lighting
11. Sidelighting/ Rimlighting
Brings out texture and
shape of subject
Produces strong
shadows
Dramatic lighting:
early or late in the day
Shoot northerly or
southerly
13. Backlighting
Comes from behind
the subject
Casts shadows
towards the camera
Silhouette vs flash-fill
To light the subject:
use reflector
14. Low Angle Lighting
Light comes from
below a subject
Campfires, setting sun
Good for eerie
Halloween portraits
15. Top Lighting
Natural lighting effect
Light source at some
angle above the subject
Bad for portraits: subject’s
eyes get lost in deep
shadows
Bad for scenics: shadows
are short and not dramatic
16. Main Light and Fill Light
Main or key light:
dominant light source/
provides lighting
direction
Main or key light:
Establishes highlights
and shadows
17. Fill Light
Fill light: second light
Direct light into shadow
areas and lighten them to
desired level
Less powerful than key
lights
Establishes the lighting
ratio; main light
establishes lighting
direction
18. Lighting Ratio
Difference in
brightness
between the
highlight area
and shadow
area
Lighting ratio
for portrait:
2:1 to 4:1
Bong S. Eliab 2008
19. Hard Light and Soft Light
Hard light: produces
dark shadows and
harsh higlights
Soft light: produces
weak shadows and
muted highlights
20. Lighting Accessories
Bounce umbrellas:
reflectors
Effective in softening
the light
The bigger the
umbrella, the softer
the light
21. DIY Lighting
Get a spotlight bulb
from a hardware
220V, 1000W
220V, 500W
220V, 250W
22. Canister
Use a paint can or mil
can
Install a standard bulb
socket
Connect to regular
600V wire
Install switch/ dimmer
according to wattage
23. Flaps at the Front
Use regular hinges
Bold hinges on the can
using 0.5 screw/ nuts
Paint flaps with black
paint
Mount canister on a
regular tripod head
24.
25. Summary
Lighting is a very important element of every
photograph. Learning to see and control lighting
will make your photo better.
The lighting direction creates the overall look of
the photo.
With natural light, you can control the effect by
moving your subject and camera or by waiting for
the sun to move to a better position for scenic
subjects.
26. Summary
Built-in electronic flash lighting is
convenient, but not exciting.
Soft light is more forgiving than hard light.
When you go out looking for things to
photograph, look for lighting instead of
things.