Film lighting

This is one of the most important issues in film production. Downplayed by many, it is a key element of a film’s visual poetics.

Film lighting

There are several types of film lighting

The first is the drawing light – it is the leading light. Its use should be motivated by the playing light or the default light source – such as a window or the sun. Its function must arise directly from the script, be consistent with the context of the time and place of the action. It is usually created by the strongest light sources in relation to other lights.

It is the drawing light that determines the dramatic significance of the scene; other types of lighting serve to complete the composition of the picture.

The second type of light is fill light – it is soft and diffused, and is usually placed on the opposite side to the drawing light, so as to illuminate the subject from both sides. The size of the fill is dictated by the dramatic intent of the creators, its strength is subordinate to the drawing light, and a lam of directed and diffused light is used to create it.

Counter light is another type of lighting used in cinematography. It is used to optically controvert a character, or object, from the background to give depth to the image. The last type of lighting is background lighting. It is used to illuminate the staging space. It is used in situations where artistic assumptions extinguish the illumination of decorations, so as to maintain an appropriate contrast effect that coincides with the concept.

film set

All the types of film lighting described above are commonly used and are components of the lighting of any professional film set. There are several lighting simulators online where you can try out the types of lighting listed above. If you are interested in the topic of film production then check out our other write-ups on the How How blog!