lighting study guide

Key Light

main source of light, brightest light, 45 degreesto the subject, creates depth and dimension in photography or film.

Fill Light

secondary source of light, farther away from subject than key light, 45 degrees from the opposite side of the key light, used to soften shadows and provide a more balanced exposure in photography or film.

Back Light

light source positioned behind the subject, used to create separation from the background, add depth, and outline the subject in photography or film.

set light

light source that highlights specific areas of the scene or set, often used to enhance details or textures in photography or film.

Describe the 3 point lighting setup for an interview (where each light is placed in relation to the subject)

uses three distinct lights to illuminate a subject, create dimension, and separate them from the background

loop light

A lighting setup where the key light is placed slightly above eye level and roughly 30 to 45 degrees from the camera, casting a small, distinct loop-shaped shadow of the nose onto the cheek toward the corner of the mouth.

Rembrandt Lighting

a classic portrait lighting technique characterized by one side of the face being well-lit while the other side is in shadow, featuring a small, distinct inverted triangle of light on the shadowed cheek

butterfly lighting

the main (key) light source is placed directly in front of the subject’s face and slightly above eye level.

Racoon eyes: 

an unflattering lighting condition where a primary light source (such as an overhead softbox, boom light, or the sun at high noon) shines too steeply from above

Split Lighting:

a portrait photography technique where the main light source is placed at a 90-degree angle to one side of the subject's face.

Checkerboard Lighting:

a portrait photography technique that creates a high-contrast, three-dimensional look by placing the illuminated side of a subject’s face against a dark background, and the shadow side of the face against a bright background

Gaffer (Chief Electrician)

head of the electrical and lighting department on a film or television set

Electrical Best Boy or Second Electric

the second-in-command of the electrical department on a film or television set, working directly under the Gaffer

Key Grip

the chief or head of the grip department on a film or television set, responsible for managing camera support equipment, mechanical rigging, and non-electrical lighting modification

Best Boy Grip

he first assistant and second-in-command to the key grip on a film or television production crew

Handheld Mic

a portable audio device designed to be held in your hand or mounted on a stand to capture voice and sound directly

Lavalier:

A tiny, hands-free microphone (also called a lapel mic, lav, or lav mic) that clips onto clothing (such as a shirt, jacket, or tie) near the speaker's mouth.

Boom Mic

a directional microphone attached to a long pole or overhead arm (called a boom pole or fishpole). It is held or suspended just out of the camera's view above the actors or sound source to capture clear dialogue while staying hidden from the shot.

Phantom Power

a method of sending direct current (DC) electrical power through a balanced audio cable (such as an XLR cable) to run active electronic circuitry inside a microphone

Condenser microphone

a type of transducer that converts sound waves into an electrical signal using electrostatic principles and a variable capacitor

Dynamic microphone:

a rugged, passive audio device that converts sound waves into an electrical signal using electromagnetic induction

Omnidirectional microphone:

a type of microphone that captures sound equally from all directions (a 360-degree polar pattern)

Cardiod microphone: 

a directional microphone that captures sound primarily from the front while rejecting sound from the sides and rear

XLR chord:

a type of electrical cable commonly used in professional audio, video, and stage lighting to transmit balanced analog signals

Dialogue: 

the spoken exchange of words between two or more characters.

Narration:

a storytelling device where a spoken or written commentary conveys plot details, character thoughts, or thematic context to the audience

Foley Sound: 

the post-production technique of artificially performing and recording everyday sound effects in real-time to match the visual action on screen

Nat Sound: 

the real, unadorned ambient audio recorded at a filming or reporting location alongside the video footage

Pop filter:

a noise-protection barrier used in audio and video production.

Shooting Shadow Side:

a filmmaking and photography technique where the camera is positioned to capture the unlit or darker side of a subject's face rather than the side facing the main light source

Motivated LIghting:

a cinematography technique where artificial film lights are added to a scene to imitate, accentuate, or justify a logical, on-screen or off-screen light source

Catch light/Eye Light:

a specular highlight or reflection of a light source in a subject's eye during filming or photography

Flat Lighting:

a lighting style in film and photography that produces minimal contrast, soft illumination, and few to no visible shadows across a subject

What do we do if the key and fill light are the same intensity?

create a 1:1 lighting ratio

What happens if we have our lights too low?

reduces forward visibility and shortens your effective stopping distance

What happens if we have our lights too high?

Having lights too high (either mounted too high up physically or set to an excessively high brightness/wattage level) can cause several distinct issues depending on whether you mean room lights, outdoor fixtures, vehicle headlights, or plant grow lights

Why do we keep the backlight off to the side and not directly behind our subject?

Keeping the backlight slightly off to the side (off-axis) instead of directly dead-center behind the subject helps control exposure, avoid lens glare, and sculpt shape and dimension