Three point lighting

All classic lighting texts talk about three point lighting. As directors we must understand what the lighting director is trying to achieve, and be able to talk in a sensible language about any problems we have with the lighting. There is no point in just saying ‘The lighting looks dreadful’ without being able to say what it is that bothers you.

The key light

This is the strongest and hardest light, and provides deliberate shadows on a face. It gives ‘modelling’ to a person, and gets away from flat, lifeless pictures. The key light is typically placed 45° off the camera axis, and at a 30–45° downward angle.

Lighting designers will usually try to make this light naturally motivated. Often key Sights come through set windows to simulate daylight.

The fill

Key lights give a very high contrast between the lit and shadowed parts of a face, and if we don’t control and balance this contrast range the shadows will come out as black patches. This balancing is usually done with a large ‘soft’ light placed on the opposite side of the camera, near the camera axis. Most lighting directors will try to avoid unnatural multiple shadows.

Typically the soft light will be half the brightness of the key light, depending on the mood the lighting director is trying to create.

The backlight

This is usually a fairly hard light set behind the performer to light the top of the head and shoulders. It provides separation from the background (which is why it’s sometimes known as a separation light). The trick with backlights is to add sparkle to hair without it being too obvious.

The background light

OK, I know we all talk about three point lighting, but we usually have to light the background behind our subject as well. This light is used to provide a sensible balance between the foreground and background.

Multiple subjects

Most lighting directors will be trying to give key, fill and backlights to all subjects, and may use one light for two functions. So, for example, if an interview is taking place the key light for the interviewer may double up as the backlight for the guest.