Three-Point Lighting
Three-point lighting is the most traditional approach to lighting and is a solid starting point. This system will ensure balanced illumination and enhanced visual detail.
Key
This is the light by which we set our exposure. Its placement is usually motivated by an on-screen source of lighting (a window, desk lamp, candle, etc.).
Fill
This is a softer, more diffused source that fills in the shadows. This light is used to compensate for the limited exposure range of the camera.
Back
This light is used to create separation between our subject and the background.
Now look at how they all work together. Move the slider to see the full effect.
There are a couple of other lights to consider:
- Eye light is the glint of light that shows up in a person’s eyeball and brings that person’s eyes to life. Without this, characters may appear lifeless.
- Background lighting will add texture to our shot and enhance separation. How does using a different colored background enhance your shot?
You can use this basic approach when considering all types of lighting situations, even when working outdoors in the sun. In that situation, you might ask yourself whether you want to use the sun as a key light, fill, or back light.
The sun could be any of these, depending on whether it is striking the subject matter directly, from behind, or being bounced in with a bounce board or reflector.
Who says you can’t control the sun?
