What equipment can you use to improve the lighting in your shots?

2 Artificial Light

Artificial light is the light that comes from lamps, bulbs, or other sources that you can manipulate and adjust to your needs. Artificial light can give you more creative control and flexibility over the lighting in your shots, but it can also be expensive, complicated, and cumbersome to set up and operate. To use artificial light effectively, you need to understand the basic types of lights, such as tungsten, fluorescent, LED, and HMI, and the characteristics of each, such as color temperature, intensity, and beam angle. You also need to know how to use different lighting accessories, such as diffusers, gels, barn doors, and flags, to shape and modify the light.

3 Three-Point Lighting

Three-point lighting is a common and simple lighting technique that uses three sources of light to create a balanced and flattering illumination of your subject. The three sources are the key light, which is the main and brightest light that defines the shape and direction of the light; the fill light, which is a softer and dimmer light that fills in the shadows created by the key light; and the back light, which is a light that comes from behind the subject and creates a rim or halo effect that separates the subject from the background. You can adjust the position, angle, and intensity of each light to create different moods and effects in your shots.

4 Low-Key Lighting

Low-key lighting is a lighting technique that uses a high contrast between light and dark areas to create a dramatic and mysterious atmosphere in your shots. Low-key lighting usually involves using one or a few sources of light that are dimmed or filtered, and placing them in strategic locations to create strong shadows and highlights. Low-key lighting can also be achieved by using a dark background or a low exposure setting. Low-key lighting is often used in genres such as horror, thriller, and noir.

6 Practical Lighting

Practical lighting is a lighting technique that uses the light sources that are already present or visible in the scene, such as lamps, candles, windows, or screens, to create a natural and realistic effect in your shots. Practical lighting can enhance the mood, tone, and depth of your shots, as well as provide motivation and continuity for the artificial light. Practical lighting can also be used creatively to create interesting shapes, colors, and textures in your shots. To use practical lighting effectively, you need to balance it with the artificial light, and adjust the color temperature and intensity of each source to match or contrast with each other.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?