Summer Task Two

How & Why lighting affects camera techniques for moving image:

Lighting has the power to influence and manipulate mood in film. The use of low key lighting has become a mainstream convention of the horror genre to exert a feeling of unease through the use of shadows and contrast. It is almost impossible to watch any horror film without seeing this demonstrated therefore it is clear that this use of lighting is not only much loved by both directors and audiences alike but is also widely successful in achieving its aim of creating an emotional response from its viewers. The amount and direction of light source can also give meaning to the viewer. For instance, as shown in the image (above text) taken from the film Insidious we see a two shot which uses the lantern as its singular source of light therefore demanding the viewers focus to be on the faces of the two people alone and not on the surrounding background of the shot. This is effective because it both manipulates and disorientates the viewer by making it difficult for them to interpret any other details about the scene other than what is expressed by the characters; thus creating a feeling of unease within the audience because of the unknown limits of what is to come. This is a direct contrast to a film that uses natural lighting because then the meaning may change to becoming a form of communication to the audience about the time of day that the scene is taking place which could be of high importance to the overall meaning that the director is trying to convey. Although we can associate certain types of lighting with particular genres it does not however mean that films are restricted with the form of lighting that they use as a combination of a variety of lighting is important to convey the preferred meaning to the viewer. This is reinforced by Blain Brown (2012) in his text "Cinematography Theory and Practice" in which he states "Lighting has nearly infinite permutations and variations. There is certainly no one "right way to light a scene." 

B) Lighting equipment and setups that you would use for the following scenarios:

• A small documentary where portability is paramount
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• 'Talking Head' style interviews

When conducting an interview it is important to try and capture the interviewee at their most natural and authentic therefore ensuring that they have a brief understanding of how the interview is going to be structured could be useful so they be more at ease as they have an idea of what is to come without having an affect on their answers by allowing them to have a head start on any questions that may be asked of them. 

A suitable background is also essential to communicate information to the viewer about the interviewee that isn't necessarily communicated by them. For instance, if you were conducting an interview with the CEO of a company then a suitable background would be one that is professional and also gives the viewer subliminal information that is relevant to the overall interview. Therefore, in this instance the interview could take place in their office space or a meeting room which would reinforce the professionalism aspect.  

Natural lighting may be used for a 'Talking Heads' style interview as it is the most authentic and flattering lighting for the type of shot. There are a variety of cons that may make filming in natural lighting difficult such as if there are windows behind the subject or in the shot as this may give a reflection of the camera and equipment or the light shining in may create a silhouette which can prove tricky to eliminate. The same may be found if the window is directly in front of the subject as the varying levels of light throughout the day, especially if there appears to be cloud, can cause significant jumps in the level of light which may alter the overall continuity and clarity of the shot. Alternatively, three point lighting would be ideal for this scenario as it is easier to manipulate the light. A three point lighting setup involves a key light as the main source of light facing the subject and a fill light can also be added to balance out the amount of light on one side and a back light makes the subject appear to stand out from the background which makes them the focus of the shot. 

Three Point Lighting Diagram

• Night time shoot 

Use a tripod - a slower shutter speed would be needed to capture an image at night to allow more light in to the lense therefore this increases the risk of camera shake which would be eliminated with the use of a tripod to keep the camera steady at all times and produce a clearer image. 

Night shoot demonstrating the effect of a slow shutter speed

External lighting could also be used to enhance the image as it will make the subject appear more lit which will again be reflected in the clarity of the shot. LED lighting would be ideal for a night time shoot as it would make the subject well lit and paired with reflectors could really increase the quality of the shot. Alternatively, water could be used as a form of reflector and add an interesting aspect to the shot.