Creative Control
Light is something to be sculpted and manipulated according to the emotional needs of your project.
Consider the following emotions:
- fear
- relief
- suspicion
- joy
How might you use light to convey them?
There is no right answer.
Let’s use the emotion of fear as an example. You might create abject terror by plunging your scene into the darkest shadows and obscuring what the audience can see. However, depending on the type of story you are telling, it is also conceivable that bright, piercing light might be more effective.
As with any aspect of filmmaking, if the results work, then that is all that matters.
There are four distinct ways in which you can control light.
Quality
The quality of light can vary. Think about the light on a sunny afternoon with no clouds in the sky. Compare that to another day in which the clouds have rolled in and hidden the sun. In what ways does the light coming from the same source change?
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- Direct light has a clear and uninterrupted path from its source. It is notable for casting defined shadows. This sort of light also has a very concentrated spread.
- Diffused light is scattered and soft, a result of something obscuring and diffusing the source. It is notable for its lack of defined shadows and its even distribution across a subject. It is sometimes referred to as “soft” light.
If you think back to our sunny and cloudy days, what sort of light does each cast?
Direction
Have you ever held a flashlight under your chin to tell a scary story? Why did you do this? What makes the direction of this light inherently creepy?
Changing the direction of a light changes the audience’s perception of the image.
How does your subject matter look if it is lit from the front? How about from the side? From the back? Below? Above?
Intensity
The intensity or amount of light changes depending on its source.
Consider the amount of light emitted by a stadium spotlight. Compare that to the nightlight by your bed. Compare that to the sun.
Each light source generates a different intensity, which can be manipulated.
You can change the intensity of a light source in several ways.
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- Decrease or increase the intensity. This might be done by using a dimmer or switching out a bulb with a lower or higher wattage. This is not something you can do with the sun, for obvious reasons.
- Place something in front of the light to cut the intensity. This may involve using various grip equipment or a neutral density filter. Either way, you are placing a light-cutting element between the light source and the image processor.
- Move the light closer to or farther away from your subject.
- Move the subject closer to or farther away from your light source.
This is a good time to revisit the subject of f-stops.
As you may recall, the f-stop on your camera is an indication of the size of the aperture. It controls how much light is hitting the image processor.
Depending on the intensity of your light source, you will need to adjust your f-stop to obtain the correct exposure. Furthermore, depending on the depth of field you are hoping to achieve, you may need to adjust the intensity of the light to achieve the required f-stop.
The f-stop you use is a creative decision. Manipulate the intensity of the light source to match your f-stop goal.
Color
What color is light? It all depends on how you and the camera perceive it. Remember, it’s a matter of color temperature.
The simplest way to control the color of a light is to put something in front of it. Use colored gels to rapidly change the color temperature of your light source.
NOTE: Be very careful when you put anything in front of a light. If using gels, only use special film gels that are designed to withstand the heat generated by the light source. Using something else can cause a fire!
Different colors can be used to great impact in the same frame. Color can be one of the ways in which you can create a unique style and look for your project.
There is no need to be “realistic” with your use of color. Find ways to make your color represent different emotional states. This can be an excellent way to telegraph ideas to an audience.
You don’t need fancy equipment to manipulate light. Sometimes it’s as simple as deciding if the sun is in front of the subject or behind it.
Film sets have a whole department dedicated to rigging and manipulating light—the grip and electric department—and they use a large range of equipment to do so. This equipment includes C-stands, flags, silks, nets, clamps, and apple boxes. The list of clever ways to manipulate light is endless, and the best way to learn is to work on a set and see the gear in action.
Use whatever you have at your disposal, but do so with intent.
