Lighting: Still Image Analysis

Lighting: still image analysis



There is a lot of low-key lighting that has thrown extremely dramatic shadows across the actresses body, so much so that her body is no longer visible.This is done with top-lighting which has accentuated the depth of her eyes and has heightened her cheekbones. This, in effect, makes her look more feminine because the lighting is flattering.

 

This scene uses high-key lighting which has made the actors facial features visible although there is shadow cast over his eyes- this makes his look more menacing or powerful. This uses top-lighting as the shadows are being thrown from above, again accentuating the lines and depths in his face.

This still seems to have used bottom lighting along with a low angle to make the actor appear more fearsome and superior to other characters. It seems as though there has been a use of key low-key lighting that has cast lots of shadows of his jacket across his body, while half his face is also in shadows. This might have been done to show mystery or an element of quest (something that needs to be found out/discovered).

• The key light is the brightest and most influential.
• The back light helps to counteract the effects of the key light making the subject appear more ‘rounded’.
• The filler light helps to soften any shadows created by the other lights.  There may be more then one filler light.

The key light can be directed from a variety of angles to create different effects.

Underlighting comes from below the subject leading to a distorted effect.  This is often used in horror or science-fiction films.

Top lighting comes from above and can be used to accentuate the features of a character.  It is often used to make film stars look more glamorous.


Back lighting is when the source comes from behind the object to create a silhouette.    

1. Identify examples of high and low-key lighting.
2. Say which depict top, back or under lighting.
3. What effects are created by the lighting in each image? 

This still appears to have key lighting with a lack of filler light- this has created the effect of large and dramatic shadows. The lighting is high-key which I can tell because the woman's entire body is visible expect for the narrow shadow thrown across her. The high-key lighting emphasises how the audiences focus should be heightened while looking at her because it is obvious that something important is happening(we can tell from her facial expression which is very visible due to the light).

This still has a natural lighting effect using a key light through the blinds to give it a real life atmosphere to it, like romantic films usually do. The lighting is quite low-key as there are natural shadows across their faces and there isn't much light actually inside the room they're in.

This image uses back-lighting to create silhouettes; this creates an intimidating effect as they have looming and ominous shadows that match their identity lacking faces. There is high key lighting, otherwise, coming from behind them.

This still uses high key lighting from the left side of the shot which leaves half of the actresses face in darkness, creating a night time, noir atmosphere. There is just enough top lighting to be able to see the woman's facial expression.

This still shows the actress in top-lighting which has made her cheekbones appear to be hollow and her face look radiant, which is typically what actresses are meant to have. There seems to be a lack of filler lighting has cast a shadow below her jaw, which again has made it look more defined.