Light and Lighting

In this post, we'll discuss the ways in which lighting is manipulated. There are four main components that impact light's meaning within a shot: quality, direction, source and color.

Quality is defined as the intensity of the light within a scene. In our commercial example, the light is more diffused, meant to create transparent shadows that mimic window lighting. The directors are trying their best to imitate natural light and illustrate the time of day in which the scene is taking place. High key lighting is used within most of the scenes to suggest midday, combined with low-contrast lighting to reveal all information within the scene to the viewers. The exception to this rule within our commercial would be the car scene--the directors utilize low key lighting here to give the impression of nighttime illumination, with illumination both on the car (streetlamp? moonlight) and in the vehicle (interior car light) to suggest selective focus.

Next comes direction, which is pretty self-explanatory in terms of definition. Different directions can create different moods, just as the quality of light can. Since our commercial is generally lighthearted and comical, deep contrasts and shadows won't really be necessary. The direction of light in this commercial is typically side and frontal lighting. The window light serves as the key lighting, with an off-screen fill light meant to diffuse shadows and give visibility to the entire scene. In addition, we see other background sources (set lighting) to create ambient interior atmosphere, such as the scene with the couple on the couch, with the light seen in the "room" behind them to the left.

An example of top/side lighting.

We do, however, have one example of top and side lighting, once again with our rogue nighttime/outdoor scene in the car. The top light is presented as coming from a streetlight or moonlight, as well as the dome light inside the car. The light coming in from the side creates a distinct separation of the car and the  asphalt.

Source is the third element of lighting--simply put, what is creating the light. Typically the lighting available through table lamps and natural light aren't going to be enough to illuminate the scene so the audience can see what the director wishes them to see. In this case, the commercial uses two-point lighting (key and fill), in addition to background sources of light, as in the example mentioned above of the couple on the sofa.

Last, we have the use of color. Changing the color of the light illuminating the scene can create different moods--red as intense, blue as calming, etc. In our case, the light is simply white and incandescent lighting, again, meant to mimic the light of day both inside and outside. Ever the rebel, our car scene uses a slight blue gel to enhance the feeling of an exterior night shot.

BELOW:
Please Me Aesthetically's video on Light and Lighting