Lighting Terms

Backlighting

• comes from behind the subject filmed

• positioned in many angles, high above the figure, at various angles off to the side, pointing straight at the camera, or from below

• used with no other sources of light, backlighting tends to create silhouettes

• combined with more front sources of light, technique can create an unobtrusively illuminated contour (edge lighting or rim lighting)

Fill light

• less intense illumination that “fills in”, softening or eliminating shows cast by the key light

Key light

• primary source, providing the dominant illumination and casting the strongest shadow

• most directional light, and it usually corresponds to the motivating light source in the setting

• may be aimed at the subject from any angle, as our examples of lighting direction have indicated

Low-key Lighting

• creates stronger contrasts and sharper, darker shadows

• often the lighting is hard, and fill light is lessened or eliminated altogether

• the effect is chiaroscuro, or extremely dark and light regions within the image

• applied to somber or mysterious scenes

• yields dramatic chiaroscuro effects that portray the adult world as a child imagines it

High-key lighting

• refers to overall lighting design that uses fill light and backlight to create low contrast between brighter and darker areas

Sidelight

places the key light at about 90 degrees to the subject, creating a split between a lit half and a dark half, which enhances texture, depth, and drama

Three-point lighting

• a standard cinematography technique used in film, video, and photography to create depth, dimension, and controlled shadows in a shot. It uses three distinct light-sources the key light, fill light, and backlight placed at specific angles to shape the subject’s appearance and mood

Top Lighting

• cinematography technique where the main light source is positioned above the subject, creating dramatic shadows and shaping mood, tone, and character perception

Soft Lighting

• cinematographic technique that produces gentle, diffused illumination, minimizing harsh shadows and creating a flattering, serene, or romantic atmosphere

Hard Lighting

• uses a small, direct, undiffused light source to create, sharp, well-defined shadows and high contrast, often seen in film noir and dramatic genres.