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THE GUIDE
part 15: lighting
Let's make sure your masterpiece is visible.
Let's start with a few videos. You'll notice that, in the first video, natural light comes highly recommended. The second video will walk you through the basics of using the sun for lighting.
What about if we can't use natural lighting?
Here are some thoughts on how to effectively position your lights. Whether you are using a formal lighting kit, construction lights from your garage, or just a bunch of lamps you “borrowed” from your son’s room, being aware of the Three Point Lighting Technique will help you light like the pro’s do.
Three Point Lighting
#1 Key Light
the main light on your subject
#2 Fill Light
opposite key light, secondary
#3 Back Light
behind the subject to separate them from the background
Three Point Lighting in Action
To see this basic concept in action, watch this quick lesson from Life Now Video, which demonstrates the purpose of 3 Point lighting AND how one or more of your lights can be used for natural lighting. Steve DiCasi goes into a little more detail and will walk you through a 3 point lighting set-up and show the effect of each light and how it affects the mood, storyline, and revelation of the subject. You can watch his in-depth video on Three Point Lighting here.
Three Point Lighting may be for the ambitious, so know that you can achieve good lighting with a setup as simple as two desk lamps. Check out how!
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