This is an assessment where I discuss various lighting techniques

1. Three point lighting
Three point lighting is probably the most popular lighting solution for film
makers and TV shows. That’s because it simple and is very effective. 3 point
lighting consists of 3 elements. The key light, the fill light, and the back light.
The key light is used as the main light on the subject and lights one side of the
face. This is the brightest light. This light is placed to the left of the camera at
about 45 degrees
Next we have the fill light which is used to light the other side of the subjects
face. It is also used however to fill in the shadows created by the key light,
hence the name ‘fill’. This light is placed to the right of the camera at about 45
degrees the other way.
Finally we have the back light. This is the last light used in the setup and is
used to separate the subject from the background. It is cast from behind and
to the side of the subject, so it is out of the shot.
Lighting a green screen
Lighting for green screening is essential because if you don’t, the green
screen will not work in the way that it needs to. For example if there is a
shadow on the green screen, the computer will pick that up a different colour
and it will not remove it, so you will be left with a big green spot in the video.
So to light a green screen effectively you will need to cast an even light across
the entire green screen that has no bright spots and no shadows or dark
areas. There are multiple ways to light a screen.
1. You can get two tall lights and put them just to the side and in front of
the green screen. This will cast a soft and even light across the green
screen.
2. You can get lights above the green screen to shine a light down onto
the green screen. However this requires more lights as if you only have
lights in the ceiling then the bottom of the green screen will be darker
than the top, causing problems. So you will also need lights at the
bottom of the green screen or to the sides because of the unevenness
caused by the lights at the top.
For this reason I believe that the best way to light a small green screen
number 1 would be better but for lighting a huge green screen like for a
movie, the second solution is better because with solution 1 the middle will not
be lit as well as the sides if the green screen is too big.
Lighting for factual programmes
Lighting for factual programmes is usually done with either 3 or 4 point
lighting. If it is done with 3 point lighting all of the lighting needs to be equal
because the only reason the lighting isn’t equal in creative products is to give

2. that creative aspect. Hoverer factual programmes are not creative, they are
purely to inform so all of the lighting should be equal to remove the creative
aspect. So the fill light is likely to be replaced with another key light so that
both sides are equal. Four point lighting is the same as 3 point lighting but
with the addition of a background light. The background lights use is simple,
to light the background, this can give some extra detail to the scene,
especially in a dark room because it will make the subject stand out even
more.
Four point lighting
Four point lighting is the same as 3 point lighting but with the addition of a
background light. The background lights use is simple, to light the
background, this can give some extra detail to the scene, especially in a dark
room because it will make the subject stand out even more.
Stage Lighting
There are 5 different lighting aspects of lighting a stage.
1. Front lighting is the primary source of lighting for the stage. These are
the primary source of lighting for the subjects.
2. Side lighting is as simple as just lighting from the side.
3. High Side lighting is lighting from above and at the back to the actors or
dancers. This is used to separate the subject from the background.
4. Back lighting is similar to high side lighting but it is from almost directly
behind instead of up and behind
5. Down lighting is lighting from directly above the stage. This is used to
cast an even soft light across the entire stage. This is good so the
audience can see the subject clearly.
This is how to light a stage effectively. Lighting can completely change the
entire mood of the show so it needs to be right. For example if the scene is
sad there may be only a few lights and the overall scene may be dark,
whereas if it is an upbeat happy scene the lighting will be bright and may be
moving quickly around the scene.
Lighting for portraiture
There are 6 main ways for lighting a portrait.
1. Split lighting is where the lighting is where lighting is split into 2
separate halves one side being lit and another being in the shadows.
2. Loop lighting is where you create a small shadow of the subject’s nose
onto their cheeks. The light needs to be slightly above eye level and
slightly to the side of the camera.
3. Rembrandt Lighting is where there is a triangle of light on the subjects
face and it is slightly different to loop lighting because the light does not
meet.

3. 4. Butterfly lighting is named this way because it makes a butterfly like
shadow under the subject’s nose. It creates shadows underneath the
nose and chin.
5. Broad lighting is where the subjects face is slightly turned away from
the centre and the side of the face that is facing the camera is more in
the light than the other.
6. Short lighting is the opposite of broad lighting because the side that is
facing the camera is in the shadows and the one facing away is in the
light.