Three-point lighting

With Justin we looked at how to set up three-point lighting.

First of all its important to note the three different light sources when setting up three point lighting:

• Key light: This is the main light source. It shines directly on the subject, usually from the front right or front left, and it establishes the overall look and feel of the shot.
• Fill light: The fill light provides balance to the key light by "filling in" the rest of the subject’s face with softer light. It should be positioned to the side that’s opposite the key light.
• Back light: The back light creates a flattering rim of light around the subject, separating him or her from the background. Sometimes the back light is called a rim light.

How to set up three point lighting:

1. Start in the dark. Begin with all your lights off, and as little other ambient light as possible. This will help you differentiate among the three lights you’ll be turning on.
2. Turn on your key light. Your key light is the brightest light in the scene and the one that creates the overall feel of the shot. Adjust its brightness to your liking.
3. Add your fill light. The fill light should be on the opposite side of the key light, but still in front of the subject. Don’t make the key and fill lights symmetrical — the fill should be at the subject’s face level, and should get rid of any remaining shadows. The intensity of the fill light should be about half that of the key light.
4. Bring in the back light. Finally, the back light separates your subject from the background. It can be placed anywhere behind the subject, but make sure to keep it out of the shot. You'll want to angle it down from a high position to achieve a sharp outline on the edge of the subject.

Here are our video examples:

In this video just have the key light on.

In this video we have the key and fill light on.

In this video we have the key light, fill light and back light on.

High-key lighting

• High key lighting is a method often used in beauty and makeup commercials and in comedies.
• A high key look gives you fewer shadows and makes your talent look flawless and elegant. It produces an even amount of light that spreads across an entire scene. It’s also useful for producing food or product imagery when you need the light to be even across the entire scene.
• Photographers and filmmakers choose it when they want an image or story to be upbeat, optimistic or youthful.

Low-key lighting

• Low-key lighting is a lighting effect that uses a hard light source to enhance shadows in your scene. Unlike high-key lighting (in which shadows are minimised), low-key lighting is all about shadows and contrast.
• A low-key image is one that contains predominantly dark tones and colours.
• Low-key lighting can create an uneasy mood and atmosphere for your audience to experience.
• A low-key image is usually dramatic and full of mystery.
• Low-key lighting is typically used when the director wants to either isolate a subject or convey drama.
• Low-key lighting helps to minimise distractions in your frame, so it really helps to guide your audiences eyes where you want them to be.

I found this video useful on high and low-key lighting: