LIGHTING

Lighting Techniques:

Three-point lighting is a lighting setup that uses key, back and fill lights. It is the most common lighting
setup in modern cinema as it makes due to its three light sources, can produce a range of effects. The
Key light is always the brightest, with the fill and back lights varying. Three-point lighting makes
manipulating the shadows and contrasts on a subject and in the frame much easier; this allows for
access to higher quality images.

Soft lighting aims to minimize shadow from a subject and blends the edges of essential shadows so that
they appear faint. This means that not much light-dark contrast is created in soft lighting. Soft lighting is
created using large light sources (relative to their distance from the subject) as they will cover more of a
subject’s surface area. Soft lighting is often achieved with natural lighting. This is usually done on a
cloudy day as clouds act as a diffuser for the sunlight meaning that the light is spread out, so it acts on
the subject from more angles and therefore reduces shadows and the contrast of their edges. Soft
lighting is often used to show a subject in full as the audience will not be made to focus on contrast. Soft
lighting is almost always used to show a moving subject as the movement will appear clear. Diffusion is
often used to create soft lighting as it changes the surface area of light produces whilst reducing the
harshness. Diffusion is often achieved with diffusion paper, soft boxes and reflectors. It is almost always
used in advertising as it reduces apparent blemishes and shadows which the audience would naturally
be drawn to look at; it can create a sense of flawlessness. In film it is mostly used in scenes without
conflict or drama, it is more effectively used in peaceful scenes.
Opposite to soft lighting, hard lighting enhances the shadow of a subject with distinct shadow edges. In
hard lighting, there is a large light contrast; the shadows are darker, and the light is lighter. Hard lighting
is created using relatively small light sources as only partially lighting a subject creates shadow. Direct
sunlight would create hard light as it is a very harsh source of light that creates sharp edged shadows.
Hard lighting is not used as much as soft lighting as it is often very harsh to look at and can leave an
audience feeling very tense. This can be an advantage in dramatic and tense scenes. However, it loses its
effect when it is overused. Because of the shadows that hard light creates, it can often bring out
blemishes or features which can be effective for highlighting characteristics in a subject. Essentially it
can filter out unwanted details in an arrangement, so the audience focus on the important parts of
image. However, hard light is undesirable most of the time for filmmakers as it does not traditionally
create a ’perfect’ cinematic effect. Because of this, soft light is used more often. Unlike soft lighting,
hard lighting is not diffused. This is what makes the contrast so dissonant – the lighting is not spread or
toned evenly. Hard lighting is a very common element of film noir as the lighting in film noir aims to be
very contrasted.

Shadows in film are often used metaphorically; they enhance or dictate the mood of the film. The
presence of shadows and how apparent they are (their position and degree of darkness), may dictate
how positive or negative the mood of a scene is. For example, high key lighting is commonly used in
lighter, more upbeat contexts as it will visually establish the brighter mood of a scene. On the other
hand, a heavy use of shadows in a scene may visually establish a more dramatic tone and prepare the
audience for darker themes. Shadows are an effective tool which is used correctly may add layers to the
tone of a scene.
High key lighting is a lighting technique that’s practical objective is to reduce the key light: fill light ratio
so that there is little contrast. This is most relevant to a three-point lighting setup as it is the most
common lighting setup in modern cinema. A high key lighting setup usually prevents the presence of
dark shadows as there is light hitting the subject from many angles; the key light will usually be in front
of the subject, with the fill light on the side relatively close to the camera to reduce the shadows on the
subject. High key lighting is usually very exposed. There would also be a backlight to further illuminate
the overall image and so that the characters features would retain their detail. Due to its positive tonal
effect, high key lighting is almost always used in advertising and sitcoms.

Opposite to high key lighting, Low key lighting increases the key light: fill light ratio as it aims to increase
contrast. A low-key lighting setup will not usually be in a three-point lighting arrangement as it is
common to have a lone key light with a potential fill light. This means that in low key lighting, shadows
are very dark and apparent. Because of this, low key lighting is effective at creating a sense of suspense
and mystery; it often makes the audience feel left in the dark. Low key lighting is usually not very
exposed.
Chiaroscuro lighting is extremely high contrast with intense darks and lights. It usually highlights the
white and black in an image. It is commonly achieved by using a side light without much or any fill
lighting. The side light will usually very bright to create the effect. This brings out the detail in a subject
due to the shadows that are produced. It is an almost essential element of film noir which was
prominent in the 40s and 50s. It generally used for a dramatic effect as the dark/light contrast can feel
very mysterious.

Rembrandt lighting is achieved by having two lights hitting the subject. This can be just one light and a
reflector. The key light is often placed on the side so that the subject is unevenly illuminated (the fill will
be on the other side so that the subject's details are apparent. It often splits a subject so that one side is
dark, and one side is light. The subject is usually at an angle to the camera so that the dark side of the
subject takes up more of the frame. Due to its dramatic contrast, it is generally used to create an
abstruse, suspenseful tone.
Up lighting simply involves lighting a subject from a relatively steep low angle so that the top half of a
subject's face (or body) has dramatic, long shadows. It is very common in horror films as putting a
character's eyes in the dark can be particularly scary. However, the effect has been used increasingly
subtly due its overuse in horror which took away from its effect. Due to the contrast that it produces, it
is effective at drawing attention to certain features/details of a subject. It is almost always used in a low-
key setup.

Spotlighting is almost opposite to up lighting, as it is achieved by having a light source (usually the key
light), at a very high angle. The spotlight can face the subject from any side, as long as the angle is
distinctly high. Unlike up lighting, spotlighting is used in a high or low-key setup. In a low-key setup a
spotlight may be used behind someone as it would create shadows on their face or even create a
silhouette effect. In a high key setup, it would be used to make a person’s face very clear. A spotlight in a
high key setup is common in live shows as they often involve a stage in which the spotlight is useful for
drawing attention to the subject.
Motivated lighting aims to emulate and enhance natural sources of light so that the lighting in a scene
feels organic. It is essentially an amplified version of practical lighting. With motivated lighting, the light
source is usually established to make the natural effect seem real. However, the apparent source of light
is imitated so that there is more flexibility as to how a scene or shot is illuminated.

Lighting to show a specific setting is an essential element to consider for filmmakers. Having the lighting
match the setting fundamentally makes a scene realistic. It keeps the audience invested in a narrative as
it prevents the cinematic illusion from being broken. Natural lighting is possibly the easiest way of using
light to show a specific setting as it is 100% authentic. However, in a studio setting it is much harder to
create the illusion of ‘authentic’ lighting; directors must choose how/if to exaggerate the lighting to
represent the location they are trying to create so that the setting is constantly implanted into the
audiences mind.
Lighting to show a specific time is often used in film as making the audience aware of the time of day,
has a great impact on the nature of a scene. For example, lighting used to show a sunset, may typically
be used in romantic or final scenes of a film. Lighting to reflect time has a great effect on the audience
as it relates to their natural world, it puts them where the characters are nor matter the location of a
scene as the visual communication of time can be understood by all audiences.

Lighting to reflect natural conditions is commonly used in a studio setting. It involves imitating natural
lighting. This is often done so that the lighting will be exaggerated to effectively represent a natural
location. This can be effective as it can more clearly communicate to the audience the conditions of a
scene.
Split lighting is similar to Rembrandt lighting; both seem to vertically divide a face into light and dark.
However, split lighting differs as one side of the face is left completely in the dark without a small
triangle under the eye of a subject. It is effective at creating an ominous tone or communicating a
character's emotional dilemma to the audience. The contrast in split lighting tends to be very high with
often only one light source being used.

Rim lighting is used to create an angelic, otherworldly or sinister effect on the subject. It involves having
a strong back light so that the edges of a subject are made very clear almost like a silhouette. It is usually
used in a low key, hard light setup so that the shape of a subject is made very clear, in this context it
generally produces a more sinister effect. However, when used in a high key setup, it can manipulate
the audiences sense of space as a subjects background is often made to seem at a strange distance. This
is because of the light seeming to bring the subject forward, creating an angelic tone. Either way, rim
lighting often gives the audience an otherworldly sense.
Lighting in Film Noir

Blade Runner (1982)

Blade runner effectively uses a range of lighting techniques to direct the narrative
Hard lighting is used often as it creates a high contrast which adds to the noir effect. It also highlights
many of the blemishes and details which sets the tone for blade runners imperfect world. The fact the
audience are shown characters in this great detail makes each shot seem more complex which carries
through to create the ambivalent atmosphere despite the relatively simple plot.

Low key lighting is used extensively in the film. It leaves the audience feeling left in the dark although it
is never clear what about. The immense shadows leave the audience with a unmissably mysterious tone.

High key lighting is very rarely used. When used it is to create a strong contrast to make the audience
associate a subject with a different theme or idea.

Chiaroscuro is used to create a sci-fi, unnatural, gothic atmosphere. It is used in combination with
mist/smoke to add a layer of darkness to the tone. It is used to create a high contrast between light and
dark which coincides with the ambiguity of the characters morality. It effectively creates a mysterious
tone as it makes the audience unaware of the time of day.

Rembrandt lighting is used to great effect throughout. It helps create the mysterious sci-fi atmosphere
and gives a supernatural and religious tone to the film. It’s use contributes strongly the the film noir
style of the film. The split it creates down the face helps to make the audience focus on a subject
especially in shots longer than a mid-shot.

Motivated lighting plays a prominent role in creating an atmosphere in every scene. Used mostly in
combination with low key lighting, it makes the setting of Blade Runner feel vibrant. It effectively
creates a sense of space especially with scenes in a small setting. It is also essential in forming the sci-fi
vibe as it is used to expand the color within scenes.

Spotlighting is often used in the film to highlight a character walking as it highlights movement. This
happens because the direction of the light leads the eye past the face and to the moving body and legs.
It

Up lighting is used occasionally tighten the effect of spaciousness. This is because up lighting is used to
highlight faces which are usually shown close up and stationary. It is used on Rachael to great effect as it
makes her seem trapped which is essentially true as her character is a victim.

Shadows are rife in Blade Runner as they used very effectively to maintain a dark, ominous tone. They
leave the audience questioning what is seen as the shadows highlight that we are left in the dark about
a lot of the world and characters in Blade Runner.

The final “tears in rain” scene (I analyzed the first 30 seconds) is a strong example of how lighting is used
in the film and the noir genre. The scene opens with a shot of the antagonist. Strobing rim lighting is
initially used to light him. I think that this creates a very supernatural tone that makes him seem very
imposing; it tells the audience that he is dangerous. Within the same shot he is spotlighted as he tuns
around. This is very effective because clearly communicates his movement to the audience.

This cuts to a shot of the protagonist who is lit primarily from low-key motivated lighting. This makes
him seem insignificant; although he takes up the frame, he is put in the dark, making the audience feel
that he powerless. Within the same shot, his head turns, and his face is side lit. I think this is very
effective as it clearly shows the audience his struggle – it gives the audience another reason to
empathize with him. Within this shot, his hands are out of focus. However, they are spotlighted and are
very large within the frame. This is effective as it means the audience are aware of what his hands are
doing (grabbing onto a beam), but they can still pay attention to his face which further shows his
struggle.

This cuts to a shot of the protagonist. Split lighting is used so that he seems ominous and unstable. The
fact that he is holding a white dove creates a high contrast. This, in combination with the fact that he is
once again rim lit, gives him a religiously otherworldly quality that makes the audience feel an
overwhelming quality from his presence. Once again, within this shot, spotlighting is used as he moves
to effectively communicate his movement to the audience. There is a strong use of practical lighting in
this shot. I think this is effective because it keeps the audience immersed in the sci-fi world of Blade
runner. It is also effective as it makes the antagonist seem authentically lit.

This is soon followed by a shot of the protagonist who is now lit by a spotlight which is initially strobing.
The strobing effect effectively makes the audience very aware of his position – he is hanging off a
building; the strobing makes the audience eyeline cross the subject multiple times so that his position is
emphasized. This effectively establishes the camera angle (low angle OVS) as the audience return to this
perspective multiple times.

This cuts to a brief shot of the antagonist in mid-air. He is spotlighted and side lighted. This is very
effective as clearly communicates his movement to the audience. The city takes up a lot of the shot in
the background. It is lit with color gels and practical light. The unique color and practical lights are very
effective at maintaining the immersion for the audience.

The OVS low angle is used soon after to reveal the antagonist once again, as he emerges out of the
shadows. This low-key lighting makes the audience feel scared of the antagonist. This is especially true
as the lighting is combined with a low angle which makes him seem imposing. In this shot, both the
antagonist and the protagonist are lit using spotlighting. This is effective as the spotlight hits the
antagonist from behind, casting his face in shadow making the audience feel he is imposing. This same
light source hits the front of the protagonist's face so that his struggling expression is made clear,
despite the fact that half of his face is out of view.

Double indemnity (1944)

Double indemnity uses a range of techniques to direct the narrative and maintain a film noir
atmosphere:
Venetian blind lighting is used in this film. It is a classic method of noir lighting as it creates sharp
contrasts in the frame. It is sometimes used to direct the audience toward a subject. However, it is
commonly drawing attention to the whole area they are in due to the eye-catching contrasts. For this
reason, it gives the audience an authentic sense of space – the contrast often covers more of the frame
than just the subject.
Shadows play a key role in setting the tone and representing the themes in this film. They often mask
much of a subject. This creates an elusive, mysterious atmosphere – the shadows communicate to the
audience that they are not being told everything there is to know, or at least not directly.

Low key lighting is very common throughout Double Indemnity. It sets a slightly dark tone. It has the
audience constantly suspecting something, especially in the more lighthearted scenes.

Chiaroscuro lighting is used constantly in Double indemnity. It gives subjects a great visual depth that
produces a tone of complexity that effects the whole composition of the film.

Spotlighting is common as most of the light sources are above the subject in Double Indemnity.

Although the lighting in this film seems very finely produced, a lot of lighting to show natural conditions
is used. The Sun acts as a key light throughout much of the film. When used, it establishes/reestablishes
a lighter tone, so that when darker lighting is inevitably used, the contrast has much more impact on the
audience.

Rim lighting is used to manipulate the audience's sense of space. It has an isolating effect on the subject
as it highlights their outline whilst taking away from the background. It is effectively used to introduce
Phyllis as it the lighting gives her an angelic quality.

Hard lighting is used commonly in this film due to the shadows it creates which bring out detail within
the frame. This detail gives the audience a greater sense of complexity to accompany the plot.

The scene in which Walter meets Phyllis is a great example of effective lighting in Double Indemnity and
the film noir genre (I analyzed the first 40 seconds).

Hard Lighting is used to great effect in the opening of this scene. It is achieved through use of natural
lighting – The Sun acts as a single light source that due to the film being in black and white, creates a
high contrast. This creates a visual contrast translates to the audience as tension building. This is
especially effective as the protagonist drives a black car. The natural lighting used makes the shot feel
organic; it effectively sets up the mood of the scene for the audience.

Back lighting is used in the following shot so that the protagonists face is cast in shadow. This is effective
at producing a mysterious effective especially as the audience are not shown the face of the protagonist.
Although the next shot does not have such a high contrast, it is very effective as it communicates a lot to
the audience about the intentions/morals of the character; the protagonist's face is in a relatively dark
shade due to the hard lighting whilst the maid’s face is in a relatively light shade. This tells the audience
that she is doing her job innocently whilst he has less regard for other people in completing his job.

Rim lighting is used with all the subjects in the next shot. It is effective as it reveals the eyelines of the
subjects – their positioning and the way they are facing is made very clear to the audience form this
technique. The Sun acts as a natural light source in this shot also, as it covers some of the frame in
which the main subject is positioned. This is effective as it draws further attention to the main subject
‘Phyllis’ - the audience is naturally drawn towards the light and points of high contrast.
Lighting in horror

Alien (1979)

Alien uses a range of techniques to direct the narrative and effectively maintain a feeling of
‘horror’:
Hard lighting is used as many shots are lit by a single light source. This creates a claustrophobic feel and
heightens tension. It makes the audience

Low key lighting is dominant in Alien as it is key for maintaining the dark tone of the film.

Shadows are used to great effect throughout Alien. They often coat subjects as it creates a natural fear
for the audience even when there is no tension created due to the plot. It makes the audience feel as
though the Alien is always lurking in the shadow, as it eliminates any sense of safety.

Throughout Alien, fear and suspense is created through the consistent use of low-key lighting. This is
effectively used in the scene in which Dallas dies. The scene opens with a low-key lighting setup, the key
light is also a back light which creates an effective practical lighting setup. The hard rim lighting effect
produced is a horror trope as the characters faces are cast in shadow with their figure as a silhouette.
The fact that this lighting is practical is very effective as it makes the scary vibe feel authentic.

The first shot of Dallas has the key light placed above him with the source in the top center of the
frame. This spotlighting effect essentially puts the audience in the dark which effectively creates a sense
of vulnerability as the characters we empathize with heads into the darkness. The fact that the light
source is out of sight and seems far away makes safety seem far away. Due to shadows taking up most
of the shot, the audience are not shown the whole of Dallas and what we can see cannot be seen in
detail. This only gives the audience a general idea of what he is doing. Therefore, I think that due to the
lack of light and low exposure, fear is effectively created as we are unaware of what is around him.
Essentially our human fear of darkness is acted upon. Suspense is created like this throughout the film
and the horror genre.
The following shot is of the crew. The lighting is not so hard in this shot due to the prominent rim
lighting which effectively used to minimally highlight the characters. Low key lighting is used to
preserve the dark tone; it is essential for the continuity of the scene. The use of Chiaroscuro lighting in
this shot is effective at creating an intense atmosphere to build the audiences sense of suspense.

This cuts to a shot with the same subjects but at a mid-shot. There is a more prominent use of practical
lighting in this shot. This creates a large contrast in this shot and effectively gives the audience a sense
of authenticity to the setup. Once again chiaroscuro lighting is used to have the audience constantly
suspecting the something bad to happen. The extremely dark effect that this has is contrasted by the
rim lighting that is used so that the audience can still successfully identify characters and their rough
eyeline. The hard lighting in this shot is used to create intensity which effectively translates to the
audience as suspense.

The following shot reveals what the characters were looking at in the previous shot: a screen with blue
on it. This new color provides a contrast from the previous shots. It makes the other lighting setups
more effective as the audience are given a contrast which naturally gives weight to either setup. Once
again most of the shot is taken up by black which maintains the dark tone of the scene.
The key light in this shot is a flame. This intense low-key practical lighting effectively puts the audience
in an intense, claustrophobic atmosphere. This is mainly since the audience are given the sense of a
small space by the overwhelming shadow in the shot due to the chiaroscuro setup. The minimal low-key
lighting in this shot effectively leaves the audiences imaginations to run wild with fear of what may be
lurking in the shadows.

The subject is side lighted in the following shot. This effectively show the audience the subjects worried
face. The hard lighting used in this shot maintains the high contrast that is present throughout the
scene. Like the previous shot there is more orange present in the shot, this warmer temperature would
have been likely achieved using color gels. This new color gives the scene more depth as although
darkness is still prominent in the shot, it more effective when used by comparison to color and light.

Once again hard lighting is used. This effectively maintains the vague tension due to the overwhelming
shadows it creates. The key light in this shot is at a low angle. This creates a spotlighting effect (an
effective horror trope) which creates a sinister tone, putting the audience on edge. The low-key setup
here is very effective as it obscures most of the frame leaving audience in suspense.
This cuts to a shot of the subject's hand. Light takes up more of this frame than what is typical in this
scene. This is because the audience are being communicated a more practical message; there is slime on
Dallas hand meaning the Alien is nearby. This is effectively achieved from the use of hard light which
creates a high contrast to make the subject (slime) to stand out. The chiaroscuro lighting in this shot
effectively maintains the mysterious tension put on the audience.

The following shot uses motivated lighting to light the subject. This effectively adds a layer of
authenticity to the sinister atmosphere that the audience experience. A similar effect is achieved from
the use of practical lighting which in this is shot adds to the color palette (from the use of color gels) to
create variety from the other shots. Up-side lighting has been used to light the subject. This creates a
split lighting effect on the subject which gives the audience a psychologically ambiguous effect.

The following shot also uses split lighting to create a cerebrally uncanny effect on the audience. This is
created by the key-side light in the shot which is also hard light. This hard light is visually harsh on the
audience and so effectively creates tension to continue suspense throughout the scene. The motivated
lighting in this shot is also effective as it creates a contrast from the previous shot – the temperature of
the lighting is cooler.
Throughout Alien, characters are generally lit from what appears to be a single light source. This creates
intense shadows and casts most of subjects features in the dark whilst leaving a few in clear detail.
Spotlighting and up lighting are very common throughout the film.

The neon demon (2016)

The Neon demon uses a range of techniques to direct the narrative and effectively maintain a
feeling of ‘horror’:
Although not used as often early in the film, soft lighting is used more on the protagonist to show her
innocence and beauty. It is used to create a superficially perfect atmosphere as there is often a more
sinister tone implemented by the acting and plot. It is used more often in the final sequences of the film
as by this point the characters are more established and therefore less mysterious.

Hard light is often used when colorful motivated lighting is not so prominent. It is effective at creating a
sense of vulnerability due to it leaving a lot of the frame in the dark.

Shadows are use extensively to create a sinister tone. They often take up most the frame and a lot of
the subjects. When it takes up a portion of a subject, it often gives the idea that a character is hiding a
part of themselves and/or only representing one side of them. Shadows are a primary source of fear in
the film as humans are naturally scared of them.

High key lighting is used in scenes involving modeling to create a sense of perfection. However, this look
of perfection is usually contrasted by the story content of a scene and the underlying atmosphere
created by the surrounding scenes.

Low key lighting is often used to make the protagonist seem endangered. It automatically makes the
audience empathize with the protagonist due to the unease created by a dark setting.

Rembrandt lighting is used from the opening shot. It is used to set an uncanny and sinister tone. It is
effective at showing character intention as it reveals the details of a face very clearly so that expressions
seem fully realized; the darkness that comes along with these expressions makes the audience question
the emotion behind the expression.
Up lighting is occasionally used. It is used to create a sense of claustrophobia as it makes movement feel
restricted due to the soul focus being forced away from the body. Up lighting makes the audience as
though the subject is trapped in the film.

Motivated lighting is used very commonly. It widens the color palette used and creates an eerie tone. It
makes the audience feel like what they are watching isn’t quite real. The extraordinary colors that are
used gives the film a psychedelic touch which aids the supernatural narrative.

Strobe lighting is used during dreamy, serial sequences to give an otherworldly effect. It gives the
audience a sense that all is not what it seems in terms of plot.

I analyzed the first 60 seconds of the demon dance scene from the Neon demon as it effectively
demonstrated a range of lighting techniques that are used throughout the film and the horror genre.

The opening shot of the scene uses hard light very effectively; a single light source is used at range so
that the audience are exclusively shown the revealing body language of the subjects whilst most of the
frame is in darkness. Spotlighting is used in combination with hard light to show subjects moving. It
directs the audience to look at the subject whilst making them seem vulnerable as they are surrounded
by shadow. Due to the position of the key light, one of the subject's face is cast in shadow with the
others totally in the light. This effectively leaves the audience in an uncanny atmosphere as the effect of
obscured faces makes the audience question true character motifs.

The following shots in the scene are shown in flashes due to the strobing effect that is used. This creates
an intensity that effectively that puts the audience on edge. This shot uses spotlighting to show a
mysterious subject; this draws a strong attention to the subject which establishes all the characters
eyeline. A red gel is also used. This not only adds a layer of variety but increases the intensity that the
audience feel. A sinister tone is also set upon the audience simply due to the fact that most of the frame
is taken by shadow.
The following shot uses Rembrandt lighting to light the subject. This effectively creates a mysterious
tone; it tells the audience to question character motifs in this scene. The lighting is softer in this shot.
This is due to the possibility that there are multiple light sources being used to light the two subjects
who are at a distance from each other. This keeps the audience associating the subject/protagonist with
innocence. However, the lighting is still hard which is the reason for the high contrast. This effectively
maintains a tense atmosphere for the audience.

There is then a shot of two antagonists who are lit with very hard light. This effectively makes their
presence intense for the audience. Red gel, which is used in almost every shot of the scene, is used
again here to great effect. The red is highlighted much more in this shot due to the color of the clothes
that the subjects are wearing – there is more color contrast. This, as well as of the intense light/dark
contrast alienates the audience from the subjects which is effective as they are antagonists.

Soon after there is a shot returning to the initial mysterious figure. However, this time the protagonist is
in frame and Rembrandt lighting used on her. This is effective at making her seem vulnerable as it is
almost as if the shadows are taking her. Once again spotlighting is used on the mysterious figure which
draws attention to it. With the focus being a slightly imposing figure, the audience are left with a
disturbing tone. The low-key lighting leaves the audience in an enigmatic atmosphere; it effectively
makes the protagonist seem in danger.

The following shot has the subject lit in an intensely low-key setup; the low-key lighting becomes
progressively darker from the previous shots. This plants the idea of fading reality into the audience as
everything becomes less clear. Once again, a single light source seems to have been used. This caused
contrasts which have effectively made the subject look demonic creating a supernatural tone for the
audience.

This cuts to a very effective shot of the protagonist; split and rim lighting are used to light her creating
an other worldly effect. Due to the intense split lighting, the protagonist's eyes are barely visible. This
effectively creates a demonic ambience leaving the audience with the idea that the protagonist is being
exploited and taken away from safety due to her inherent innocence. The lighting in this shot is
intensely low-key. This effectively preserves the impending dark atmosphere that the audience are left
in.
Lighting in Music Videos

Leave me a trace
I analyzed the shots from the first 35 seconds of the ‘Leave me a trace’ as they were used effectively and
represented how lighting can be used in music videos.

The opening shot uses purple color gels to set a mysterious tone. This effectively sets up the video as
the audience are left in a mysterious haze, leaving them in anticipation. Spotlighting is used as it
effectively highlights the subject in their dark surrounding. It confuses the audience’s sense of space as
the surrounding are put in shadow. This leaves the audience with a mysterious, dreamy atmosphere.
Low key lighting is used in this shot. Backlighting is used to create a silhouette effect. Along with a
purple gel to create purple fog, backlighting effectively creates a mysterious, attractive quality. It has a
reeling effect on the audience, it leaves them wanting more.

Within the same shot there is a new lighting setup as a new light source with a blue gel replaces the
previous key light. This blue blends more with the shadows creating a dark atmosphere that the
audience are left in. Although low key lighting is commonly used to create suspense, in this shot it
effectively translates to the audience as momentum. The shadows and darkness leave the audience
wanting more as it makes them feel like they have not been shown everything. The light is relatively
harder in this setup. This effectively creates more complexity in the contrasts and shadows that has a
visually stimulating effect.
The next shot uses strobe lighting which intensifies the mood of the video and effectively gets the
audience excited. The strobe light also spotlights the subject effectively making the subject seem more
than human due to its inherent religious use. It almost overwhelms the audience as the source of light,
although often within the frame, is masked by its ultra-brightness and lens flaring. are effectively used
to create colorful fogs. They leave the audience with an otherworldly tone. It makes the tone feel
hyperbolized.

In the following shot the use of backlighting becomes rim lighting which leaving the audience with a
supernatural tone. Chiaroscuro lighting is used very effectively here. It provides contrast, not only
within the frame, but from the rest of the video. The contrast makes the lighting of the video as a whole
more impactful for the audience as they exaggerate each other by their differences. The contrast is
especially potent as this shot is in black and white. Because of this, the contrast is dramatically high
especially at the edges of the subject, due to the rim lighting. This effectively draws the audience’s eye
straight to the subject and makes her appearance uncanny.
The next shot is also in black and white. This is very effective as it creates a high contrast that works
with the fact that mirror is being used in the shot; leaves the audience with a self-reflective tone. Rim
lighting is also achieved in this shot. It is effective as it highlights the outline of the subject which is
important in this shot as the audience are shown the subjects face in detail, so the image needs to look
sharp. The fact that the lighting is low key and the shot is in black and white Is important as it follows a
shot with a very similar lighting setup. As the two shots are next to each other, this establishes to the
audience that this is a setup and mood that will be returned to throughout the video.

Make me feel
I analyzed the lighting from the first 35 seconds of Make Me Feel as it represented how lighting can be
effectively used in music videos.

The first shot uses red color gels to effectively create a closed sense of space, the audience are made
abundantly aware that the subjects are inside. The lighting in this shot is low-key. This is effective as it
acts to reel in the audience - instead of being shown instant high-key lighting, the audience get to
experience a buildup in momentum. Shadows take up a lot of the frame in this shot. This is to build a
supernatural atmosphere around the star subjects. It makes the audience aware that they are new to
the party they are entering; they were in the shadows and now they have come out to the light.
The following shot uses red and blue gels. This creates an effective contrast a it lets the audience know
that the subjects are stepping into a different atmosphere than the initial one. Hard light is also used in
this shot. This effectively builds the suspense from the previous shot as the buildup to the song is still
occurring. Most of the light sources in this shot are at a high angle. This creates a spotlighting effect that
is typical of music performance which effectively puts the audience in a state of mind ready for
watching/listening to musical performance.

Soon after there is a shot of the two main characters again. Low key lighting is used effectively as again,
it communicates to the audience that the subjects are entering into a new space. Practical lighting is
also subtly used alongside the use of color gels. This not only adds to the door pallet of the shot, but
makes the scene feel authentic. It leaves the audience in a more satisfying atmosphere. Due to the
motivated lighting created by the color gels, the lighting in this shot is relatively soft. This is effective as
the audience are being shown the two main stars of the video. This helps to make the audience see
them in a positive way which ultimately helps the Impact of video.
Soon after there is a shot looking down a hallway. The lighting in this shot is relatively low key. This
effectively makes the new setting slightly mysterious which tells the audience that something to change.
Gelled practical lighting is also used which effectively adds a layer of the authenticity to the atmosphere
that the audience are left in. The lighting in this shot also very hard which creates subtle contrasts. This
also has the effect of creating mystery which effectively leaves the audience in suspense.

This cuts to a shot of the two main subjects with a similar lighting setup. Purple and green color gels are
used effectively. They are used to create an uncanny tone which matches the facial expression of the
subject. Practical lighting is used to represent the subject's moment of apprehension; the practical light
communicates to the audience that she is being brought into reality. This is emphasized by the hard
lighting which effectively acts as a way to remove the characters façade. The subject’s faces are split by
a warmer lighting and lighting using green color gels. This emphasizes the idea to the audience that the
subjects are facing a different part of themselves.

The following shot uses hard lighting. This is effective as it makes the subject stand out to the audience.
Pink color gels are also used to contrast the previous green gelled lighting setup. This is effective as it
not only makes the subject stand out, but introduces the theme of love and affection to the audience.
Spotlighting is also used it makes the shadows out of sight in the frame. This makes the audience feel as
though the subjects are no longer hiding something. The lack of shadow around the subject is effective
at making the audience feel as though everything is being revealed. Motivated lighting is also used as it
effectively maintains the vibrant atmosphere that the audience are left in.