Bending spoons with your mind

Dizkoteck

Dizkoteck

Well-known member
Hey guys,

technical aside, How do many of your approach a scene with lighting? Im not saying put a Leko there and dido there, but asking yourself how should this scene look? As a DP, the more professional the jobs get...the more lighting responsibiltlity is on me.
No longer am I a camera operator, being a DP requires the "eye". So tell me, What goes through your head when at location with your lights?

(I hope Im making sense)
 
The first question you ask is: what is the point of this scene? Is it happy, sad, tragic, funny, etc. Lighting (as well as every other aspect of moviemaking) should support the scene that's being played out in that location.
 
Absolutely, it all goes back to the script. Where are we in the story? What is the tone of the scene? Whoes point of view is the scene to be told from?

Prior to getting to an individual scene, however, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered in pre-pro. What is the style of the project, Naturalistic, Realistic or Expressionistic? How much adherence to motivated lighting does the Director want?

I have only had one opportunity to sit down with a Director and screen movies to establish a "look" for a film and I am a fan of the process. My point is that approaching a scene starts with the script and the Directors wishes along time before it is shot. This must be filtered through your aesthetic influences and then put into technical terms, i.e., "Put that baby there with a quarter CTO".
 
Nice input David. I totally agree that it all ends up in the director for the first and final say. I remember back then, I broke that rule once... I know mistakes are a learning experience, but an expensive one as well. You grow nonetheless.
 
Didn't you know... There is no spoon!!!

It's a good question, and I'm in a similar situation. I'm trying to learn more about cinematography in general, and lighting is what I know least about. I'm great with planning camera movement and composition, but those damn shadows!!!!

Are there any good books that anyone could recommend as starter for lighting for filmmaking?
 
Er... shadows are the whole POINT. :laugh:

The craft of lighting is basically about putting shadows where you want them, and removing them from where you don't. Shadows are good. They are your friend. They give shape and texture to the scene. They hide detail you don't want, which helps you focus the eye on what you want the viewer to be seeing...
 
Without shadows, you have nothing. Shadows draw the scene.

Look at a pencil drawing. You aren't drawing the light; you're drawing the shadows. You're taking a perfectly even light (the white paper) and adding contrast and dimension.
 
ah ha... hence the book, Placing Shadows.

Good book technically, but still doesnt answer my question... unless I finish reading it probably
 
Barry_Green said:
Er... shadows are the whole POINT. :laugh:

The craft of lighting is basically about putting shadows where you want them, and removing them from where you don't. Shadows are good. They are your friend. They give shape and texture to the scene. They hide detail you don't want, which helps you focus the eye on what you want the viewer to be seeing...
Click to expand...
I sure wish someone had told me that 18 months ago....
 
If you want a great book on using lighting try "Painting with Light" by John Alton. It's rather dated (black & white) but very good at covering the basics of utilizing light to create mood.
 
Jubal28 said:
Without shadows, you have nothing. Shadows draw the scene.

Look at a pencil drawing. You aren't drawing the light; you're drawing the shadows. You're taking a perfectly even light (the white paper) and adding contrast and dimension.
Click to expand...
I haven't heard this saying before, that's perfect David!
 
I didn't know all we made was horror movies :) Shadows are great but a part of what cinematography is, but not even near the top of the list of what makes us cinematographers, unless you are making a figurative statement?

My Friend Blain Brown has a book that I suggest all read who want to understand cinematography better. Blain is a talented, old-school cinematographer and writes well. Here is an excerpt:

http://tinyurl.com/bkhoa
 
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