Technical Skills and Development - Lighting

Technical skills Development 

Lighting

Fill light: in television, film, stage, or photographic lighting, a fill light (often simply fill) may be used to reduce the contrast of a scene and provide some illumination for the areas of the image that are in shadow.
The fill light is often softer and, by definition, less intense than the key light. The ratio between light and shadow depends on the desired effect. For example, a fill light that is a small fraction of the power of the key light will produce very high-contrast or low-key lighting, while filling with half or more of the key light power will produce a high key, low-contrast tone.
An alternative to using a direct light source as a fill is to re-direct or "bounce" the key light towards the subject by using a reflector.

Key light is the first and usually most important light that a photographer, cinematographer, or other scene composer will use in a lighting setup. The purpose of the key light is to highlight the form and dimension of the subject. The key light is not a rigid requirement; omitting the key light can result in a silhouette effect. Many key lights may be placed in a scene to illuminate a moving subject at opportune moments.

The background light: is used to light up the background area of a set. The background light will also provide separation between the subject and the background. The background light is placed last and is usually placed directly behind the subject and pointed at the background.
In film, the background light is usually of lower intensity. More than one light could be used to light up a background or alternatively to highlight points of interest.
In video and television, the background light is usually of similar intensity to the key light because video cameras are less capable of handling high-contrast ratios. In order to provide much needed separation between subject and background, the background light will have a color filter, blue for example, which will make the foreground pop up.

Cameo lighting: in film is a spotlight that makes a single person seems clearer in a scene. It creates a soft shot, such as one where God is shining down and a light shines down onto this person.
Cameo lighting derives its name from the art form in which a light relief figure is set against a darker background. It is often achieved by using barn-doored spotlights. It helps focus on the subject and not its environment. A problem with cameo lighting is that it can lead to color distortion and noise in the darkest areas.

Functions of lighting: Stage lighting has several functions, although to allow for artistic effect, no hard and fast rules can ever be applied. The functions of lighting include:

• Illumination: The simple ability to see what is occurring on stage. Any lighting design will be ineffective if the viewers cannot see the characters.

• Revelation of form: Altering the perception of shapes onstage, particularly three-dimensional stage elements.

• Focus: Directing the audience's attention to an area of the stage or distracting them from another.

• Mood: Setting the tone of a scene. Harsh red light has a totally different effect than soft lavender light.

• Location and time of day: Establishing or altering position in time and space. Blues can suggest night time while orange and red can suggest a sunrise or sunset.

• Projection/stage elements: Lighting may be used to project scenery or to act as scenery onstage.

• Plot(script): A lighting event may trigger or advance the action onstage.

• Composition: Lighting may be used to show only the areas of the stage which the designer wants the audience to see, and to "paint a picture