How can you learn lighting techniques and equipment?

It may be beneficial to begin at the beginning with the theory and science of light. After a thorough understanding of the subject’s nature, structure and origins are in place than application can be understandable and not just practiced. Please don’t encourage individuals to jump right to application learned without understanding theory.

Starting out I probably logged 2 hours a day on Youtube. I would research a technique or watch a tutorial then IMMEDIATELY try it out. My poor dog has been my test subject many times but hey at least he is always a good sport. If you are just starting out and you land that first gig make sure you go in prepared but also realize this is a process and it will take time for you to nail the proper exposure. I learn something new every shoot still to this day.

I agree with three point and fillers, with dimmers to quickly change mood and or setting. I love being able to pure, real setting, and to get right lighting will give an honest look.

→ Learn the Three-Point Lighting System: Understand the roles of key light, fill light, and back light. → Exposure Understanding: Know how lighting affects the brightness and darkness of your video. → Shadow Management: Learn how to control shadows for depth and dimension. → Highlight Creation: Use lighting to create highlights and enhance features. → Light Source Types: Familiarize yourself with natural vs. artificial, and hard vs. soft light. → Mood Setting: Recognize how different lights set the mood and tone of your video. → Color Temperature: Understand how different color temperatures affect the look of your video. → Educational Resources: Seek out tutorials, articles, and courses to solidify your understanding.

Buy yourself a copy of Joseph V Mascelli's book The Five C's of Cinematography. Branching out from five central subject areas, the five C's—Camera Angles, Continuity, Cutting, Close-ups, Composition—Mascelli offers filmmakers a detailed and practical course in visual thinking. With the aid of photographs and diagrams, this text concisely presents concepts and techniques of motion picture camerawork and the allied areas of film-making with which they interact with and impact. Included are discussions on: cinematic time and space; compositional rules; and types of editing.

In my experience of taking Videos or Photos for content of my Paintings. You show much more of the piece in that way. Perspective is so important because it will bring out different features that you were not able to see before. Perspective can add to to the overall personality of what you are trying to show.

→ Combine Light Sources: Mix natural and artificial lights for unique effects. → Adjust Angles and Positions: Change the direction and location of lights to alter shadows and highlights. → Control Distance: Experiment with the proximity of light to your subject for intensity variations. → Use Modifiers: Employ reflectors, diffusers, gels, and filters to shape and color your light. → Study Visual Works: Analyze lighting in films and videos you admire to understand their techniques. → Practice Regularly: Consistent experimentation will improve your skills. → Review and Critique: Watch your footage critically to learn from successes and mistakes. → Seek Feedback: Get opinions from peers to gain new perspectives on your lighting setups.

→ LED Lights: They offer adjustable brightness and color, are energy-efficient, and portable. → Softboxes/Umbrellas: These tools soften and diffuse light for a natural effect. → Reflectors/Bounce Boards: Use these to fill shadows or add highlights. → Light Stands/Tripods: Essential for positioning lights at various heights and angles. → Light Meters/Histograms: Instruments for measuring exposure and ensuring balanced lighting. → Invest Wisely: Prioritize upgrades that offer the most versatility and improvement for your work. → Research Options: Look for reviews and comparisons to find the best equipment within your budget. → Consider Second-Hand Gear: Quality used equipment can often be found at a significant discount.