Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important visual tools in media products. It doesn’t just make things visible, it helps tell the story, creates mood, and influences how we feel about what’s happening on screen.
Different lighting techniques can change the entire tone of a scene. Bright, natural lighting might make a scene feel happy, safe, or realistic. Dark or low lighting can create suspense, fear, or sadness. Lighting can also highlight important details, like a character’s expression or a specific object.
Lighting also helps shape how characters are viewed. A person lit from below might look scary or mysterious, while soft lighting from the front can make someone appear gentle or trustworthy.
Quantity Of Light
Quantity of light refers to how much light is present in a scene. A single candle, for example, gives off far less light than a torch or bright sunlight. Filmmakers and content creators often control light levels to suit the mood or visibility of a scene. Unwanted light can be reduced by turning off lights, drawing curtains, or filming at a different time of day.
On the other hand, extra light can be added using lamps or by choosing a brighter time to shoot. In professional settings, studio lighting or even digital lighting in games can be used to adjust brightness and ensure everything is lit the way it needs to be.
Photo by David Tomaseti on Unsplash.
Direction Of Light
Direction of light refers to the angle or position the light comes from in relation to the subject. Since the sun is usually above us, natural light typically comes from above eye level. To make scenes look realistic, artificial lights are often placed in similar positions. If the goal is to reduce shadows on a subject, lights can be added from multiple directions to create even lighting.
However, when light comes from below the subject, it creates an unnatural and unsettling effect, often called "horror lighting," which is commonly used in scary or dramatic scenes.
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