Datasheet

c h a p t e r 1: UNDERSTANDING LIGHTING, COLOR, AND COMPOSITION ■

Using Naturalistic Lighting

Naturalistic lighting is an adaptable scheme that matches the natural lighting scenario

of the subject location. Any light that is visible is logically driven by a recognizable

source. Naturalistic lighting is sometimes called “transparent” in that no artiﬁcial

lighting methods can be detected. Another way to deﬁne naturalistic lighting is to list

what it lacks:

U• nmotivated shadows

I• mpossibly distinct rim light

P• erfectly placed lights that never permit a character to fall into shadow or be

unglamorously lit

In the ﬁeld of motion pictures, there are numerous examples of non-naturalistic

lighting. Many ﬁlms feature stylized or exaggerated lighting. This is particularly evi-

dent with musicals, which are fantastic by their very nature. Such ﬁlms as The Band

Wagon (1953) and Silk Stockings (1957) employ high-key lighting, in which the ﬁll

light is intense and there is a low key-to-ﬁll ratio. The characters in these ﬁlms are

therefore evenly lit and carry a minimum number of deep, dark shadows. High-key

lighting is also evident in many television sitcoms, in which it is necessary to keep a

character well lit at all positions on the set. Similar lighting is employed for advertis-

ing and catalog art (see Figure 1.20).

Figure 1.20 High-key lighting demonstrated by ad photography

In other situations, non-naturalistic lighting is a result of technical limitations

or time and budget restrictions. A common problem with older motion pictures is the

unintended creation of unmotivated, multiple shadows. For example, light represent-

ing the sun casts multiple shadows of a character on the ground. More commonly,

a lamp casts multiple, distinct shadows of its own ﬁxture (see Figure 1.21). This is

caused by a need to illuminate a set with multiple lights to attain correct exposure

even though the desired light source—in terms of the story—is singular.

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