Lighting styles

Lighting can be used to create types of shadow.

Hard lighting uses direct powerful light to create sharp and distinct shadows.

Soft lighting will cover the light source with a or bounce it off another surface.

This results in softer, less defined shadows.

The sun at noon on a cloudless day will generate hard light, creating crisp and sharp shadows.

The sun on an overcast day will create soft light, with the clouds working to scatter the light.

This is the most common style of lighting seen in film and television.

Click through the images below to find out more about each light and the effect it has on your subject.

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Three-point lighting
Three-point lighting works by using three main light sources, each positioned in relation to the subject being filmed.
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Key light
This is a powerful, bright light. It is called the key light because it is key to the set-up and will be providing most of the light. This light is placed at roughly a 45-degree angle to the subject being shot.
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Fill light
This is a softer light placed at an angle to “fill” out any unwanted shadows created by the key light. It is usually set to about half the key light’s intensity and placed opposite the key light at about a 30-degree angle.
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Back light
This is used to throw light on the subject from behind. It’s placed behind them at about a 90-degree angle. This light helps to create an illusion of depth behind the main subject and helps separate it from the background.

LightingLighting styles