Lighting Tips for Video

Lighting & Shooting

Explore every shot length & camera angle

• Be sure to try to hand hold your camera and experiment with moving it in every direction and at every distance from your subject.
• Be sure to cover your subject with multiple shots.

Tube Kit contents:
• 2 lighting stands
• 2 simple broad lights
• 2 scrims
• 1 umbrella
• 2 power cords

2 reasons to never touch the bulb:
• 1. Unforgettably hot
• 2. Your finger oil will create hot spots

The Power of Light
• It can completely emphasize details or completely hide them.

2 Basic Qualities of Light:

Hard Light & Soft Light

Hard Light examples: the noonday sun on a clear day, a focused spotlight

Soft Light examples: daylight on a hazy day, light that’s bounced with an umbrella

Characteristics of Hard Light:
• casts a sharp, clearly defined shadow
• provides high contrast
• very directed, doesn’t scatter or wrap around objects
• takes a direct path toward subject
• easier to control

Characteristics of Soft Light:
• softens shadows
• lowers contrast /the contrast is reduced because the light spreads out
• light tends to bend and wrap around objects
• takes a less direct or straight path toward subject
• because of this, it’s harder to control
• can be more flattering

• Every time you double the distance from the subject with a light source, you’ll get 1/4 less light intensity.

• The intensity of light is cut with a soft light. You may need to move it closer to the subject.

• Remember that moving the camera or subject around in the existing light is often the path to the most beautiful lighting.

• Often so-called lighting mistakes like sun flares or a haze of white sunlight coating a subject can be small miracles and transform a subject or mood.

JVC GR-X5U rule:
• This camera needs a lot of light to avoid grainy images. Don’t assume that because the shot looks lovely on your LCD screen, that it has enough light. It’s best to flood a scene with light, and use the Exposure button to dim down your shot.

3 Point Lighting:

3 Point Lighting Jobs -

• Jobs of the Key light:

• 1. The main source of illumination on a subject
• 2. It defines the shadow area

• Typically placed 30 to 45º on either side of the camera/subject axis line.

• Jobs of the Fill Light:

• 1. To fill in the shadows created by the key light.
• 2. Needed to provide contrast, and give control over that contrast.

• Typically it’s a soft light + it’s placed opposite the key light on the other side of the camera/subject axis line.

• Jobs of the Backlight or Kicker:

• 1. To separate the subject from the background
• 2. To add depth to the shot.

• Typically placed at a 45º angle to the right, left or above the subject. If above the subject, tip it at a 45º angle.

White balance & Color Temperature

Color temperature of light is measured in Degrees Kelvin:

• Standard candle = 1930
• lights in kit = approx. 3100
• Sunrise or Sunset = 2000, 3000
• Midday Sun = 5000-5400

• Sunlight = blue
• Fluorescent = green
• Artificial lights = reddish orange

• Avoid mixing color temperatures of light in one shot.
• Absolutely always manually white balance your camera every time you change a location or lighting set-up.

• Typically video doesn’t do well in extremely bright or dim light.

• The bright oily spot on your subject’s forehead will often translate to pure white, while images with too little light will appear grainy and will not have enough color to realistically reproduce the image.
Working With Sunlight

• For the best results, shoot in weather with diffused sunlight: in the shade, in the early morning, late afternoon, during the magic hour, or on hazy days.