3. Night/ Moonlight
ÆFor a more dramatic and moody effect
ÆThis is a more narrational approach
ÆRequires a different colour balance
Then, for lighting when there is natural light available:
‐Ambient lighting
With ambient lighting, one should try to mimic, for example, the standard three point technique using whatever natural light is available. For example one may use light coming in from the window as key, and then lights turned on in the room as the fill and back lights. During our workshop we got some of our best shots using ambient light. If used properly it can be very clean, pleasing to the eye, and make subjects look very attractive.
NEW TERMS
‐Blondes: these are extremely powerful lights that you wouldn’t commonly take into the field. [Tip: be careful when using them in areas which have a low power supply because they may blow the circuitry with their ridiculous power – not the best option for shooting in a rural school, or the like].
‐Redheads: These are less powerful, more versatile lights which you would take into the field.
‐Gels: the coloured plastic papers which you put over a light to change its tone
‐Scrim: the clear gel paper which you put over a light
‐Gobo: a shortening of ‘go between’ – this is a medium between the light and the subject which reflects the light.
These can be used in creative ways, such as a fan with strips of newspaper stuck to it and blowing to create the effect of rippled light. Or a body of water to create a more dappled effect; in this way one can mimic pools or lakes, or generally create a more interesting shot.
A gobo is used when you need to reflect the light off something else because it isn’t giving the desired effect shining directly on the source, or when it’s impossible to place the light directly in the path of the source. Sometimes the room may be too small to do this, or an odd shape, or you may be in an awkward place, and so a gobo becomes very useful.