film noir lighting
DESCRIPTION
This presentation instructs the viewer on the basics of lighting a stationary subject in the style of film noir.TRANSCRIPT
Light your subject in
film noir style
Presented byKathy Cuyler
Let’s define film noir lighting:
Film noir lighting uses stark contrast between light and shadows to create a moody atmosphere.
Like this:
Before film noir lighting
After film noir lighting
Know your lights.
Key Light
Know your lights.
Key LightFill Light
Know your lights.
Key LightFill LightBack Light
Know your lights.
We will use symbols to designate the different lights.
The key light will look like this:
K
The fill light will look like this:
F
The back light will look like this:
B
Let’s discuss the characteristics of each of these lights:
. . . use a light with a focused, direct beam.
For your key light . . .
. . . use a soft, diffuse light.
For your fill light . . .
Traditional lighting ratio is . . .
K
F
Intensity
Intensity
=
Traditional lighting ratio is . . .
K
F
Intensity
Intensity
=2
1
Film noir lighting ratio is . . .
K
F
Intensity
Intensity
=
Film noir lighting ratio is . . .
K
F
Intensity
Intensity
=4
1
. . . use a light with a focused, direct beam.
For your back light . . .
Caution!
Don’t touch the lights!
Don’t touch the lights!
Position the subject in front of the camera.
Camera
Position the subject in front of the camera.
Camera Subject
Key Light
Now we’llbring in the . . .
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K
Camera Subject
K45°
Subject
Subject
K
Subject
K 45°
Here is the subject with just the key light:
Before key light
After key light
Now we’llbring in the . . .
Fill Light
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Camera Subject
K
F
Here is the subject with the fill light added:
Before fill lighting
After fill lighting
Back Light
Now let’s bring inthe . . .
Camera Subject
K
FB
Camera Subject
K
FB
Camera Subject
K
F B
Camera Subject
K
FB
Camera Subject
K
FB
Subject
B
Subject
B
Subject
Here is the subject with back lighting:
Before back light
After back light
Prepared by
Kathy Cuyler
Prepared for
TECM 5285
.
Graphics from Silver, Alain and James Ursini, ed. Film Noir Reader. New York: Limelight Editions, 2006.
Wikipedia.org. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_My_Sweet> <http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca_(film)> 27 April 2010
Works ConsultedAscher, Steven and Edward Pincus. The Filmmaker’s Handbook. New York: Penguin, 1999.
Silver, Alain and James Ursini, ed. Film Noir Reader. New York: Limelight Editions, 2006.