Chapter 16 Lighting Applications 349
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2. Establish “night.” Next, turn off the
key and fi ll lights and set up a very fi
general overall fi ll, possibly with a pair of fi
fl uorescent light banks or large LED arrays. fl
Without changing the lens aperture, adjust
this fi ll light until the subject and bed are fi
visible, though dark.
As an alternative, gel a spot or broad pale blue
and place it at room-window height for a moonlight
look. A window-frame cookie in front of the light will
enhance the effect.
3. Synchronize the scene lights. Rehearse
the shot until the crew member at the fill fi
light switch can turn the light off exactly
when the subject turns off the bed light, so
that the two light sources look like a single
light, Figure 16-27.
Although the remaining light (from the
fl uorescent or LED fill) fl will be somewhat too fi
bright for perfect realism, viewers generally
accept it as “darkness.”
Exterior Scenes
It is impossible to light the whole outdoors
for night scenes, but a few tricks will yield very
satisfying results. First, light only the important
action areas, as described previously. Then, try
these suggestions.
Use Back-Cross Lighting
Except where the action must be seen
clearly, place lights to the side and behind
subjects (in the nine o’clock to three o’clock arc)
to edge them with rims of light that will separate
them from the background, Figure 16-28.
Rake the Background
Night scenes are supposed to be dark.
So, use just a few lights to pick out features of
the background. As usual with background
lighting, place the lights to hit the background
at oblique angles. See Figure 16-29.
Practical Practica Practica actic actic
Fill
ew Cre
mber mem
Fluorescent or
LED pan
Fluorescent or
LED pan
A A
Figure 16-27. Faking darkness. A—The scene, as fully lit with practical, fill, and pan fill lights. B—After the subject
and crew member switch off the practical and fill lights together, the pan fill lights provide a low light level that
viewers will accept as “darkness.” p
al ca a Practica Pra P ractic
Fill
Creew
memmber
Fluorescent or
LED pan
Fluorescent or
LED pan
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
B
Figure 16-28. Bounce light from the spots on the
building rim lights the motorcyclist. g g y
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