Lighting with Zach King

Summary

In this video, the host explains the basics of three-point lighting, essential for any film or production class. They detail the roles of the key light, fill light, and hair light in setting the scene and enhancing the subject's appearance. The video also touches on the importance of using natural daylight temperatures and offers a quick tip for lighting outdoor interviews. Additionally, the host discusses the 'Golden Hour,' the optimal time for filming due to its beautiful, natural lighting.

Takeaways

• 💡 The video covers the basics of three-point lighting, commonly used in film production for lighting subjects like people or products.
• 🔑 The key light is the most important, casting the most light on the subject. In this setup, the speaker is using 85-watt bulbs.
• ✨ The fill light is softer and diffused, reducing shadows created by the key light. It uses fewer watts and a whiteboard for diffusion.
• 🎥 The hair light is used to separate the subject from the background, creating a professional and cinematic look.
• 🕵️ The speaker suggests using practical light sources on set to make lighting look natural, a common Hollywood technique.
• 🌞 The lighting setup in this video uses natural daylight temperatures to match the lighting outside the windows.
• 🎨 The speaker emphasizes the importance of matching color temperatures to avoid clashes between warm and cool tones.
• ⚖️ Light intensity can be controlled by either moving the light away from the subject or using diffusion materials if no dimmer is available.
• 💺 For outdoor interviews, the speaker recommends using simple tools like bounce boards and stands for effective lighting.
• ⏳ Golden hour is an optimal time for shooting, but the limited timeframe means you may need multiple days to capture all the shots.

Q & A

What is the three-point lighting setup mentioned in the script?

The three-point lighting setup consists of a key light, a fill light, and a hair light. This setup is fundamental in film and video production, primarily used for lighting subjects like people, animals, or products.

What is the role of the key light in the three-point lighting setup?

The key light is the most important light in the setup as it sets the scene and provides the primary illumination. It is typically the brightest and defines the overall mood of the scene.

How is the fill light different from the key light?

The fill light is less bright than the key light and is used to soften the shadows created by the key light. It is often diffused and helps to balance the light in the scene.

What effect does the hair light add to the scene?

The hair light is used to create a glow around the subject, separating them from the background and giving a more professional Hollywood look to the film. It is placed behind the subject and helps to define the subject's outline.

What is the significance of using natural daylight temperatures for the lights?

Using natural daylight temperatures for the lights ensures that the lighting matches the natural light coming from windows or the outdoor environment, avoiding a clash of color temperatures and maintaining a consistent look.

How can you make a light source seem natural in a scene?

To make a light source seem natural, you can position it at an angle where it casts light as if it's coming from a natural source, such as a window or a lamp. This helps to sell the idea that the light is part of the set.

What is the purpose of diffusion in the three-point lighting setup?

Diffusion is used to soften the light, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more even and pleasing lighting effect. It can be achieved through the use of diffusers or bounce boards.

Why is the golden hour important for video shooting?

The golden hour, which occurs about an hour before sunset, provides a beautiful, warm light that enhances the visuals in videos. It is often used in wedding videos and other productions where a soft, flattering light is desired.

What is a quick tip for lighting an outdoor interview?

A quick tip for lighting an outdoor interview involves using a C-stand with a bounce board to reflect light onto the subject, ensuring that they are well-lit against a potentially dark background.

How can you adjust the brightness of the lights if you don't have a dimmer?

If you don't have a dimmer, you can adjust the brightness of the lights by moving them further away from the subject or by using diffusion techniques to soften and spread the light.

What is the challenge with shooting during the golden hour?

The main challenge with shooting during the golden hour is the limited time available. The window of opportunity is short, and you must complete the shoot before the sun sets, which can be difficult if you're trying to capture all the necessary shots.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Introduction to Three-Point Lighting in Film Production

The speaker introduces the concept of three-point lighting, a foundational technique in film production. The three lights used are the key light, fill light, and hair light. The key light is the primary source, illuminating the subject, while the fill light softens shadows, and the hair light creates a professional look by separating the subject from the background. This technique is mainly for lighting subjects like people, animals, or products. The speaker also highlights the importance of natural daylight temperatures to avoid color temperature clashes.

05:00

🌅 Shooting During Golden Hour

The speaker discusses the benefits and challenges of filming during the 'Golden Hour,' a period an hour or so before sunset that provides a beautiful, soft light. This time is ideal for filming, especially in wedding videos, due to the stunning natural lighting effects. However, the limited duration of this light presents a challenge, as it forces filmmakers to work quickly or risk reshooting over multiple days to capture all necessary shots before the light fades.

Keywords

💡Three Point Lighting

Three Point Lighting is a fundamental lighting technique used in film and video production to create depth and dimension in a scene. It consists of a key light, fill light, and back light. In the video, the speaker explains that the key light is the primary source of illumination, the fill light softens shadows created by the key, and the back light separates the subject from the background. This technique is crucial for creating professional-looking videos, as it helps to highlight the subject and add visual interest.

💡Key Light

The key light is the main light source in a three-point lighting setup. It is responsible for providing the primary illumination on the subject and setting the overall mood of the scene. In the script, the speaker mentions using an 85-watt bulb for the key light, emphasizing its importance in defining the scene's lighting. The key light is typically the brightest and most direct light source, shaping the viewer's attention towards the subject.

💡Fill Light

The fill light in a three-point lighting setup is used to soften the harsh shadows created by the key light. It is usually less intense than the key light and is often diffused to scatter the light more evenly. The script describes the fill light as having a 285-watt bulb and being diffused with a white board, which helps to balance the light and create a more natural and flattering look on the subject.

💡Hair Light

The hair light is a light source placed behind the subject, intended to create a subtle glow around the edges of the subject's hair, separating them from the background. This light is often used to add a professional and cinematic look to a scene. The speaker in the video describes the hair light as a crucial element that gives the 'Hollywood movie look' to a film, by creating a sense of depth and dimension.

💡Diffusion

Diffusion in lighting refers to the process of scattering light to soften its intensity and create a more even, less harsh illumination. In the script, the speaker mentions using a diffusion technique with a white board to balance the fill light. This helps to reduce the contrast between the lit and shadowed areas of the subject, resulting in a more pleasing and natural appearance.

💡CST

CST stands for 'C' clamp and 'S' stand, which are pieces of film gear used to hold and position lighting equipment. The speaker uses a CST to hold up the fill light's diffusion board, demonstrating the practical application of this equipment in setting up a three-point lighting system. CSTs are essential for creating stable and adjustable lighting setups in various filming scenarios.

💡Color Temperature

Color temperature in lighting refers to the color of light emitted by a light source, measured in Kelvin. It affects the mood and appearance of a scene. The script mentions the importance of matching the color temperature of the lights to the natural daylight, which is crucial for maintaining a consistent and realistic look in the footage. For example, using daylight-balanced lights when filming in natural light ensures that the colors in the scene appear natural and not skewed by conflicting color temperatures.

💡Daylight Temperature

Daylight temperature refers to the color temperature of light that mimics natural sunlight, typically around 5500K. In the video, the speaker emphasizes using lights with a daylight temperature to match the natural light coming through the windows, which helps to create a seamless and natural-looking scene. This is important for maintaining color consistency and avoiding the 'funky' look that might occur with mismatched color temperatures.

💡Golden Hour

The golden hour is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when the sunlight is soft, warm, and diffused, creating a golden hue. The speaker in the video discusses the benefits of filming during the golden hour, as it provides a beautiful, flattering light that enhances the visuals in videos. However, the challenge is the limited time frame available for shooting, which requires efficient planning and execution.

💡Bounce Board

A bounce board is a reflective surface used in photography and videography to reflect and diffuse light onto the subject. In the script, the speaker uses a bounce board to create a simple outdoor interview setup, demonstrating how it can be used to control and shape the light falling on the subject. Bounce boards are a versatile tool for enhancing lighting in various shooting conditions.

Highlights

Introduction to three-point lighting, a fundamental concept in film school and production.

Explanation of the key light's role as the most important light in setting the scene.

Details on the key light setup using 85-watt bulbs for a powerful illumination.

Differentiation between three-point lighting for subjects and other lighting techniques for environments.

Demonstration of the fill light's function to soften shadows and provide additional light.

Description of the fill light setup with 285-watt bulbs and a diffusion panel.

Importance of the hair light in creating a Hollywood movie look by separating the subject from the background.

Tip on positioning the hair light to mimic natural light sources for a realistic effect.

Technique to make light sources appear practical in a scene by matching the angle of the light cast.

Advice on using all three lights together for a complete three-point lighting setup.

Emphasis on using natural daylight temperatures for consistency with outdoor lighting.

Discussion on the creative use of color temperatures to emphasize character or story elements.

Practical tip for adjusting light intensity with or without a dimmer using diffusion techniques.

Quick setup for lighting an outdoor interview using a C-stand and bounce board.

Safety measure suggestion of using sandbags for securing lighting equipment.

Discussion on the golden hour and its benefits for video shooting with beautiful natural light.

Challenges of shooting during the golden hour due to the limited time window before sunset.

Encouragement to consider the golden hour for shooting films to take advantage of its unique lighting.

Transcripts

[âm nhạc]

Hey guys I'm going to walk you through

three Point lighting This is kind of the

first thing you learn day one of film

school and production class so I've got

three lights for this setup right here

I've got a key light a Fill light and a

Hair light really quickly I'm going to

show you what these do by Turning them

off so Let's just keep the key Light on

so the key light is the most important

light it kind of sets The Scene it gets

the cast the most light I'm using a 85

Watt bulbs and There's four of them so

you can do The Math of How much Wat is

coming out of there I'm not a math major

I'm a film guy so key light most

important light and by the way This is

not for scenes I'm not telling you how

to light An Environment or a house or a

room That is totally different lighting

techniques We're covering three Point

Which is mostly for subjects so Animals

people or products is going to use the

3p so That's the key then we've got the

Fill I'm going to just keep the Fill on

and Turn off the key and That's with the

Fill So this is actually a little bit

diffused It's not as Bright as the key

light I've only got 285 Watt bulbs on

there Plus the diffusion the diffusion

is a little Balance White board and then

It's held up by a cst so kind of

standard film Gear and then i want to

show you What It looks like just with

the Hair light and the Hair light is

actually what I think kind of makes that

Hollywood movie look to your film so

instead of just having the key and the

Fill all on You and It's all coming from

the Front um you've got the Hair light

Which is giving you this glow kind of um

popping you from the background I think

that separating you from the background

is such a more professional look that

you kind of can add to your film I've

got it on a regular stand Here You can

see so we framed it out of the shot but

actually One Thing I would do if I was

really filming this for Myself um I

would pan the camera a little bit more

the cool tip is that if you have a light

source and it's coming from from An

Angle Where your light was also casting

um It's going to make it seem to the

audience that this light is coming from

the Natural light and so anytime you can

do that in a scene it really helps sell

light sources not just like oh I know

They have this light Over Here they put

their key light right there cuz There's

a Giant you know Block of light and then

Shadows um also like If you're using a

lamp for example you can put a light

near that lamp and kind of cast the

light down as If That lamp is actually

working That's a um what they do in

Hollywood all the time they want to make

it seem like it's practically in the set

So I'm going to crank on all the lights

now Let's go ahead and turn them all on

another important thing about all this

lighting setup is that these are Natural

daylight temperatures If you're going to

do something like tungsten and i lit

this Right now It would look kind of

funky because you'd see the outside is

daylight just like these are coming in

the windows and we'd have this Clash of

color Warm and and cold color

temperature so be kind of mindful when

you're Shooting to have color

temperatures either planned like If you

want a Warm and a cold two andone shot

That's great a lot of Hollywood Movies

do that to emphasize different things

about the characters of the story But in

this case you know usually all our

videos are shot with this light setup

here and this Natural temperature the

last thing about lights is Of course the

further you move them away the dimmer

they get if you don't have a dimmer or a

dim box something you can actually turn

down the light brightness um you can

also use diffusion so That's How To Do

The 3po lighting system Pretty quickly

just remember the key light the main one

the Fill kind of diffused and and Coming

in here on the side and then the Hair

Light on the back making this nice

Little light shimmer ok So Quick outside

tip for lighting interview really fast

nothing even crazy it just requires a

cst you know your chair for your

interviewer and then here one of these

Bounce boards so just pops Open like

that We open up the C stand So I'm

putting This up here resting it on top

of here We're popping This up

and We're just blocking Where the chair

is right there so That is

probably a good place for this and in

Hollywood on a Union set you know You're

going to need to put a sand bag on there

So this doesn't tip over and Knock me on

the head but Uh I'm going to be ok I'm

not going to Sue anybody if it Falls on

Myself so That's How I would light An

outside interview Real quickly in 30

seconds and then the key is just making

sure your background is as Dark um not

as your subject here Hey What's up guys

We're going to be talking about this

gorgeous time of the day Which is called

the Golden hour and the reason This is

called the Golden hours cuz it gives you

this Beautiful light about An hour and

hour and a half before the sun goes down

and so We like to take advantage of this

in our videos you know when you see a a

good Wedding video usually they're

towards that Hour Which is great and

You're Shooting that and It looks looks

Beautiful Uh We're doing this with jedi

Kittens Right now so Of course when you

have only An Hour to film youve got to

usually spread that sho over a couple

Days so That's the difficult part about

the Golden Hour Plus You're Trying to

beat finishing your Shoot before the sun

actually goes down If you don't get all

your shots Again You're have to come

back so There's pros and cons to the

Golden Hour con being There's not a lot

of time to Shoot But when you get it

It's it's really gorgeous so think about

Shooting your your film if it really

helps all in the Golden

hour

I