Post 13. Advanced Production Skills Workshop 3

Understanding"source" and "colour" the two remaining features of lighting...

The source is where the light is coming from- so where it originates.

The colour gives the image more or less texture and creates depth plus making it look more interesting.

An example in the difference in light within the same film is two dissimilar images from Forest Gump but in the same setting.

The source of light is from above at the back of the image- (horses back), but is obstructed by objects such as the trees and the monument. There are no cast shadows or hard lines making it soft lighting, with only mild attached shadows.

The production company could have done a number of things to create this, such as using a diffusion to cut off direct light, possibly with reflectors? A filter over the camera to warm the image. Or use a blue sheet to create the natural light.

The second image on the other hand has a high contrast...

There are more attached shadows and hard lighting with creates a loss in detail and texture. It is much harsher than the previous image and colder to view.

In other cases it is much harder to use natural lighting, in documentary films they are usually obliged to keep with natural light as it looks more realistic. Although in most other film types it is not necessary, and additional lighting is used to obtain a greater control of the images look. For example with the mise-en-scene of TV's, lamps and street lights etc. They are not strong enough alone, therefore cannot be the main source of light.

This image of the Fictional Film, 'Harry Potter', is a prime example where the lighting looks as though it is being created with the street lamps but in fact uses head lights as there representation, being pointed downwards to make a diffused soft image which appears as though they are in a real street. Although because of this approach shadows are created on the faces of the characters so a reflector is used to prevent this.

The production company will need to create a lighting design that is consistent within the setting of the scene, and the assumption is made that any subject usually requires two light sources, Key and Fill light.

A 'key light' provides the dominant illumination and normally casts the strongest shadows.

The 'fill light' provides a less intense illumination which 'fills in' and softens the shadows.

'Back light' can also be used which gives the subject a rim of light, serving to separate the subject from the background and highlighting contours. This makes up...

3 Point Lighting

By using three separate positions, the photographer can illuminate the shot's subject however desired, while also controlling (or eliminating entirely) the shading and shadows produced by direct lighting.

If using this technique you must be aware to keep consistent as moving the light can cause problems with continuity which must be avoided.

This image shows three point lighting broken down into its sections.

The order being...

Key

Fill

Back

Creating an Atmosphere

Lighting is very important when creating atmosphere and can help give a better effect. If you have dark light for example that creates deep shadows and only illuminates certain sections, the scene has a more erie, scary feel and shows mystery. Where as bright light, with colours and beams coming out of a person for example can make them seem innocent or spiritual. If the light is not bright enough, or two bright it can ruin an image and give less impact, this is why such detail is taken in the lighting design to decide which way the light should be presented.

Here are two pictures of different corridors that use different means of light and colour to create there atmosphere. The first seems more mysterious and the second scarier, both have an intense sense.

The wall lights are projected upwards and act as the main source of light, however there are in fact ceiling lights between the arches to allow enough light in the image. There is also light at the back which causes a glow and adds to the depth making you want to know what is down there. There is also a light forward to see his face so it is not covered by the shadows off the other light sources.

This image is much harsher as it reflects the light onto the floor and walls which creates harsh lines, plus with the slight diffusion makes it more sticking.

We then experimented in a group to shoot two different shots of the same scene but with a difference in lighting, this is what we created...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDT6G1C6Gc

The first shot is using all the natural and electrical light available which gives off a bright image and gives you the impression it is just a girl leaning against the wall as if on a normal school day.

The second shot is much darker with as much natural light blocked out as was possible- this was very difficult because of the big windows and door to the left of the corridor so we had to change the camera mode so it would blur the natural light and focus on the electrical light. We were able to move the spot lights on the ceiling to pin point the hot spots such as Jenna face and make the background look more mysterious. Shadows also helped with this from both types of light and added to the texture of the shot, creating an atmosphere and making the audience ask questions such as why is she there?

From simply changing the light on a shot, can change the way you look at it and the impression it is trying to give off to the audience. Even with these two scenes being the same there is definitely a difference in the way you view them, and the message it is giving off.

Although there are also other ways you can manipulate light to create the atmosphere and change the visual to make it fit you requirements and seem more interesting an effective. This can be done with filters, colours and gels. You need to work with the best material so that you can get the look you want and the most realistic, for instance if natural light is needed you do not want it to look dull against the other sources say inside a building. This is where Colour Temperature comes in...

Colour Temperature is a way of describing the colour of a light which is being heated, and is derived from a theoretical object called a 'Blackbody' radiator. The radiator shows that when heated it changes colour from, black to red to yellow to white to blue. This identifies that the lower the rating it becomes warmer, therefore the more yellow, and the higher, the cooler and bluer the light.

Colour temperature is there so a balance of light can be put into a shot to achieve the look you want, however this is time consuming and can become expensive.

One way is using Gels. A gel is a transparent coloured material used to colour light for colour correction to balance the sources of light. They are thin sheets of polycarbonate or polyester which are placed over the lighting material being used. Using a red gel will create a warmer look, say changing daylight to have a yellow glow, but is expensive and will need an experienced team at hand which also creates more time. So using a full blue gel is more advised in this instance as matching blue to daylight helps to create one colour temperature, yet still gives a clear and strong balance making it blend and look realistic.

Other ways of manipulating light are as fallows...

Filter.

Filters are used to improve the quality of the visual being recorded by altering light entering the camera lens, and are transparent and translucent optical elements. They can be used in many ways to sharpen, colour, add flare, affect contrast and the light intensity to an image. These can work individually or in combination as well as creating special effects. Although filters can be varied in combination they still behave reasonably predictably when understood and used properly.

An example of filter is the Red 85 lens.

When all the light sources match daylight, use an 85 filter to trick the camera into thinking the light blue is white.

This as seen in the image to the right gives the image a warmer depth by creating more orange tones which lessen the harshness of the scene.

Another manipulation technique is to use Colour.

An example of where there is colour placed over the image to change the context of a visual is in the short film we watched 'That Old One'. Here they place green over the images when the man in the piece is lying, as there are many different scenarios in the film where he is thinking the best way to keep his wife from finding out that he has cheated, a number of ideas occur to him and they are all shown, so using the green light identifies when he isn't telling the truth.
It also creates a more interesting way to show this mans crisis and creates less confusion, although definitely keeps you thinking.

Some of my information was influence by... http://www.klsmediadepartment.blogspot.com/

Experiment Two- Designing a shot that experiments with colour gels to create and atmosphere.