LO2: LIGHTING TECHNIQUES

Sources of light:

Direct light= usually strong light aimed/pointing directly at a subject and/or object, sharp shadows & highlights.

Indirect light= surrounds the scene e.g. flood lights & ambient light. Natural light is usually indirect
OPEN FACED LIGHTS cast hard light with sharp shadows and can be used as key lights. Only used in film & lacking in any type of lens, the 1kW versions can be known as Redheads with the 2kW versions known as Blondes. 

Fresnel lamps were originally used in lighthouses, and later became useful in film & theatre production due to the avoidance of hotspots and the even light as well as the compact lens.

LED panels - used to pour light onto scenes. LED lights used less energy which saves the cost for film studios. Less heat is also generated , meaning that the actor will avoid getting too hot.

Practicals include neon signs, candle lights, conventional lamps and natural daylight. Many 'Noir' films use practicals and in some cases, open faced lights, usually one-point (as seen with the shadows.

Barn doors 
If the set of a TV studio is indoors, the artificial lighting will have to be used in case the lighting is so low the camera displays  pitch black  due to the lack of light.

In photography, mainly portrait an the "redhead" open faced light, blanket lights (LED panels?), reclectors ( which reflect light in certain directions ) and soft boxes. 


ONE- POINT LIGHTING only requires a key light usually pointing towards the subject as 

TWO-POINT LIGHTING has a fill light, lower than the key light and THREE-POINT LIGHTING includes a back light which if strong  can create a halo effect.

One-point is seen in many horror titles for the low, key lighting as 2 point or natural light would be used in a factual program whilst 3point would be used in high-key lighting  e.g.  staged productions.