In film and video production, your lighting can often result in the difference between a professional video, or one made by an amateur. Poor lighting can be spotted a mile away, and it can turn any scene an offensive viewing experience.
Knowing some basic lighting principles can help anyone achieve professional-looking lighting results.
The Light Source
Your source of lighting should be simplified in terms of how many you use, and which types. Using only one type of lighting will lend you more control over the look of your video, and it is much easier to manipulate than trying to grapple with too many light types and sources.
Fluorescent lighting is an easy way to achieve smooth, even light in your videos. It also has the advantage of not producing too much heat (making fluorescent lighting ideal for small spaces), it is energy-efficient and affordable, and the light produced looks natural without creating harsh shadows.
White Balance
White balance is the mix of primary colors which result in pure white light, when viewed through a video camera's light filtering system. In video production, all other tones are affected by white balance.
You can manually optimise your video camera's white balance for filming, with the camera's white balance feature. Focus on a white wall or piece of paper, then gradually adjust the white balance until the paper appears as the correct, natural colour in the viewfinder.
Three-Point Lighting
Three-point lighting requires three major lights, all positioned on the same subject. This common lighting technique does wonders for creating depth, making your subject appear three-dimensional instead of flat. The major light is called the key light, which illuminates the subject from the front and slightly to one side. The fill light adds additional light to the other side of the subject, while the dimmer backlight creates the sense of an outline around the subject.
Diffusion
To soften light and provide natural-looking illumination, use gauze to cover strong lights. This creates diffusion and minimizes harsh shadows or strong light that shows too many details, such as skin blemishes. Bouncing lights off a white board or ceiling is another way to create diffusion.
Avoid Backlighting
Backlighting occurs whenever your subject is between the dominant light source and the camera. This can cause the subject to look too dark, or make the background wash out and appear too light. To avoid backlighting, add extra light to your subject or construct the scene so that the space behind your subject receives as much or less light that the subject itself.
