If you had to choose one book on lighting...

I have that one - it's a good one. Real light on application, real heavy on technology, but nevertheless good.
 
I second Set Lighting Technician's Handbook by Harry C. Box
I haven't read Matters of light and depth but since it was suggested i'll go out and buy that now
 
SilverWolf said:
I second Set Lighting Technician's Handbook by Harry C. Box
I haven't read Matters of light and depth but since it was suggested i'll go out and buy that now
Click to expand...

Hi Harry,

Great, you'll find it's chock full of great info (going far beyond theory). Here's some bullets from the text of things not to do...

Regards, Michael

-------

Don't forget to pre-screen location for lighting
Don't use flat light which burns out foreground
(undiffused light on camera mount)
Don't use hard light for fill
Don't forget about color temperature
Don't ignore shadows
Don't ignore talent/subject, planes, mood, and media
Don't let lighting overwhelm the scene and story
Don't ignore sources that motivate a scene
Don't light everything in the room exactly the same
(including planes)
Don't use identical lighting intensities, distances, angles
Don't arbitrarily use colored lights
Don't make background brighter than subject/talent
Don't obscure subject/talent with background
Don't ignore contrast problems
Don't rely on light meters, especially if non-uniform light
Don't use hard undiffused light on shiny objects
Don't forget lighting consistency between scenes
Don't light transparent/translucent objects from front
Don't shoot in rooms with 8 foot ceilings
Don't forget lighting and composition are interrelated
Don't forget lighting, time, and movement are related
Don't necessarily move lights with talent/subject
Don't ignore available light sources
Don't overdo lighting
Don't place boom mic on same side as key light
Don't shoot exterior portrait with only overhead sun
Don't ignore safety considerations
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top