The Importance of Lighting

In this post I am going to talk about the importance of lighting in thriller and horror films, the different types of lighting you can get and explain why lighting has been used in certain example shots. If lighting is not used correctly it may create the wrong effect for the certain genre. The lighting in footage can reflect the mood of characters, set the scene and show times of day to the audience. We are studying this so we choose our lightings for our thriller correctly to use effects and make it easier when it comes to filming.

Some different types of lighting are:

3 point fill lighting

• 3 lights to create a normal-looking scene with soft shadows and dark colours. Using a 3-light setup to provide normal lighting across an entire object, the exact opposite of chiaroscuro. Mostly used in normal scenes, yet in this example it is used to keep focus on the main subject in the shot which is the woman and emphasise her importance in the shot.

Chiaroscuro lighting

• This is characterised by harsh lighting that creates an extreme contrast between different areas of the shot, such as the characters face. Can be used with colour, but also can be used in black and white for a different feel. It is common in horrors, dramas and any other type of film where the atmosphere of the scene plays a vital role. This example of this woman face shows eeriness and unawareness due to only half her face being shown. 

High key lighting

• High key uses harsh, bright lights to reduce contrast in a scene, giving the scene a white-washed, clean look that does not have any shadow in the frame. This will create positive emotions and feelings to the audience.

Low key lighting

• Backlighting is when the scene is lit directly from behind, usually from some form of natural or artificial lighting where it can be used to create a silhouette in the shot.  

Natural lighting

• Natural lighting can either be as the name suggests normal light from the sun. Or it could be enhanced by yellow or white hue, possibly used with other effects too. It is used in the shot below to enhance the natural setting around and give the shot a simple yet effective lighting.  

Artificial lighting

• This is from light that comes from obviously intentionally man made light sources, such as light bulbs or fluorescent. This is used to enhance the woman in the picture and highlight her skin against the dark background.