Is this REM video an example of Rembrandt lighting? Any guesses as to how they did it

The class of 'lighting' is 'chiaroscuro', 'light and shadow'. While Rembrandt did a large number of paintings using this style of lighting, many other artists used the technique as well. Very popular from the 16th Century onward.

For example a Caravaggio work, "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas"(1601-2) predates 'Rembrandt', who was born in 1606.

The 'technique is basically soft big key light and little or no fill.

st-thomas.jpg


Another example, from Northern Europe by Garrit van Honthurst, "The Matchmaker"(c. 1625)... How do you like those footcandles...

Gerrit_van_Honthorst_-_De_koppelaarster.jpg
 
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Thanks j1clark. The lighting in that second painting is magnificent. The way the features on the person on the left are revealed- just awesome. So inspiring. Can anyone think of a scene in a film that has done something similar to that in terms of lighting?
 
I have always loved that video and think that it is gorgeous. First start with 35mm film and then add incredible lighting. They used a variety of lighting instruments, for sure, but a lot of the lighting looks to be supplied by Fresnels, IMHO.
 
Have you guys seen what DP Anna Foerster did in Emmerich`s Anonymus?
Extraordinary work IMHO.

Somehow she managed it to make it actually look like a painting - no dirty tricks in post, just she, some lights and Alexa.

dpa--anonymus-emmerich-auf-shakespeares-spuren-anonymus-805644_400_300.jpg Negativ%u00252BAnonymus%2BShakespeare%2BRoland%2BEmmerich%2BEdward%2Bde%2BVere%2BDavid%2BThewlis.jpg Still-from-Anonymous-005.jpg
 
Postmaster said:
Have you guys seen what DP Anna Foerster did in Emmerich`s Anonymus?
Extraordinary work IMHO.

Somehow she managed it to make it actually look like a painting - no dirty tricks in post, just she, some lights and Alexa.

View attachment 49515 View attachment 49517 View attachment 49518
Click to expand...

Waited with anticipation and then got the BD when it came out. We missed seeing it in theathers... but great cinematography in my opinion...

What is some what ironic, is that 'contemporary' advice was to paint Elizabeth I 'without the modern use of chiaroscuro', that is much flatter, and very little or no shading on the face.

The 19th century Pre-Raphelite movement was sort of in that direction as well, that is much flatter facial lighting, despite the often 'dark' themes of the image.

For example:

BowerMeadow.jpg


And:

ophelia.jpg
 
Is it "Rembrandt lighting"? Depends what you mean by the expression.

In photography, Rembrandt lighting, if I understand it properly, is "short" lighting + "Paramount" lighting, creating a triangle of light on the side of the face turned towards the camera. If you're using the term this way, then, yep, some of the shots look Rembrandt to me.

Wikipedia description (though I don't really understand the lighting setup described there): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rembrandt_lighting

Photography article: http://www.vividlight.com/articles/1615.htm


Edit: Just did a Google. Seems "Rembrandt lighting" is used in a few slightly different ways. Some people don't require there to be short lighting, for instance -- just the triangle is sufficient.
 
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