Lighting types

Lighting plays a major part is the production of TV and/or films, allowing to express a range of situations, as well as influence the way we see a situation/character. There are multiple types of lighting.


The standard set-up: The standard set-up of lighting in films involves the subject in the centre, surrounded by 3 lights, with the camera in front. At the back is the backlight. On the left hand side of the camera is the reflector/fill, and on the right hand side is the key.


The key light: The key light is the brightest and most important light on the set, putting light on the focus of attention, and illuminates completely.

Back Light: The back light is useful to counter the the key light, and/or creates a silhouette of whatever is standing in front of it, allowing for dramatic effect or anonymity.

Filler light: The filler light removes shadows often caused by using the key and/or back light on the subject, often creating a look of youth.

Under-lighting: Under-lighting is when a light is shined directly under a person, or a persons face, to give an appearance of hugeness, or horror, oft used in thriller and horror films.

Top lighting: Top lighting is the opposite of under-lighting, where a light is shone down on the subject, creating an effect of glamour, or style. Also often used to give a holy look, or to show a god/angel.

Back lighting: Back lighting is when the source of the light is behind the subject. If no other lights are in use, it creates a silhouette. Not to be confused with the back-light.
High key lighting: High key lighting uses more filler light, giving a realistic temperance

Low key lighting: Low key lighting uses only one kind of light, throwing most of the subject into shade. This shows a chiaroscuro effect.

Chiaroscuro: This is the effect of pronouncing effects of light and dark, producing very deep, distinct shaows.


A famous example of this would be the 1922 horror film nostfartu, in which low key lighting creaes massive contrast between the dark and light shades on scene.