Cinematography Lighting Exercise

Different Lights:

In the Lowell Kits there are three different lights: Fren-L, Rifa and Pro.  For this exercise we filmed a shot lit with each light in turn to compare the look and intensity of each light.  We filmed the Fren-L lighting first and set the Aperture to correctly expose the footage.  Once the aperture was set we didn't change it for any of the other lights.  You can see clearly from these screenshots the differences in each lights intensity.

Fren-L

Pro

Rifa

Rifa + Dif

Rembrandt Lighting:

Rembrandt Lighting is a flattering lighting named after Rembrandt Van Rijin.  It is often used in studio portrait photography.  A key aspect of Rembrandt lighting is the triangle of light that is created under the subjects eye 

Three-Point Lighting:

Three-Point lighting uses 

1) Key Light => Primary Light Source

2) Back Light (Rim) => Provides Separation from background

3) Fill Light => Fills in shadows on face, preventing harsh shadows

Sometimes additional lights called 'Kickers' are used to provide definition to background elements. but they aren't part of the Three-Point Lighting plan. 

Low Key/ Three-point Lighting Exercise:

Lighting exercise

1. Fren-L only, no diffusion in near frontal position

2. Fren-L only, with diffusion, in near frontal position

3. Fren-L only, with diffusion, in cross-light/ Rembrandt position, angled directly at subject

4. Fren-L only, with diffusion, in cross-light/ Rembrandt position, angled perpendicular to the camera

5. Fren-L in previous position.  Add a reflector in fill light position

6. Fren-L only, with diffusion, in interview position

7. Fren-L in previous position.  Add Prolight, without diffusion, in a back/rim-light position.  Do not change F-Stop from previous.

 
Adjust F-Stop for correct exposure.

8. Fren-L and Prolight as previous.  Add Rifa, without diffusion, in fill-light position.

9. Keep Fren-L and Prolight the same.  Add a diffusion to the Rifa and change position of light if needed

Interview lighting exercise:

For this exercise we were asked to film a nice-looking interview.

• MCU
• Longish Lens (not at widest)
• Good Lighting - three-point diffused.  Wide Light Source
• Flags and C-Stands- to cut out any unnecessary spill.\
• Focus, WB, Aperture, Gain, Exposure, Tripod  
• Background 
• Depth (Bokeh)
• Perspective
• Composition
• Framing
• F-Stop- Widest.  (ND Filter, Shutter Speed)

1) 3 point lighting set up, using Fren-L, Pro and Rifa with no diffusion.  We realized that we had left the Polarization filter on the camera after this.  

2) The same lighting set up, without the polarizer.