Interested in taking professional-caliber portraits but haven't time (or money) for a bulky light rig? Great results can be had by taking advantage of the available light from windows. This photographer's guide offers a number of pointers for you shooters out there. For more information, and to get started taking your own beautifully lit photos, take a look.
Understand the basic qualities of studio light by using a simple, one-light strobe lighting kit.
The video producer in this instructional lighting video shows the contrast of how to produce a well lit scene. He first makes a cut out of a piece of foam board, then mounts it, placing it just so. He then position the lighting at an angle that appeals to the viewers and compliments the subject at hand. He also shows the difference between the angle of the camera and how the lighting is positioned. He takes us through the process of how to angle the camera and set up the lighting with minimal...
If you shoot videos with your iPhone in low-light situations, you may not always get the results you want. And that applies when recording video in 720p, 1080p, and even 4K resolutions. But there's an easy way to maximize your video's quality when filming in dark environments.
This tutorial shows you how to improve the quality of the lighting shown in the viewport in Maya.
Videomaker Associate Editor Tom Skowronski explains how four basic steps can be used to improve the lighting effects for a video and give it a more professional look.
If you're trying to film a romantic dinner, you'll want the setting to seem dim and candle lit - but you'll still want the lighting quality of the film to be good. Here's how you can shoot an effective dimly lit scene.
In photography, good lighting can mean the difference between an amateur shot and a professional quality portrait. Whether you're taking photographs outdoors or in, using lighting to your advantage creates an artistic, flattering effect.
Nick from Greyscale Gorilla shows you great techniques for getting professional quality textures in Cinema 4D. He also talks you through the update of HDRI Light Kit v. 1.1 to v. 1.1.
You want the best quality photos you can get, and the Canon EOS 7D digital SLR camera makes perfecting your pictures easy. There is a range of technologies to enhance image quality. This video shows you the many options you can use.
How do you draw an object to look three dimensional? After blocking out the silhouette of a form, you can begin to render it's three dimensional qualities. An easy way to begin giving an object sculptural form is to think about where the light is coming from. Note the lightest points and the darkest points on your object to begin creating shading and contrast. Watch this three part instructional drawing video to begin drawing using direct lighting.
This mod was designed to improve the quality of the ambient light in your Minecraft game. It's super easy to add to your game. This tutorial shows you where to find the mod and then how to install it on your computer.
Triboluminescence is the quality that makes a substance emit light when you crush, smash, hit, or otherwise break it's molecular bonds. If you want some triboluminescent (smash-glow) crystals, watch this video to learn how to make some out of a battery, glowpaint, and fire.
This video tutorial will show you how to apply four styles of lighting. This video teaches you how to apply four styles of lighting, namely Rembrandt, Beauty, Cameo and filling in from the Key Side. You will learn about high contrast lighting schemes, dealing with the amount of contrast used to highlight a person's face, as well as spotlight effects, and how these tend to draw the viewer into the scene. You will be shown how the Rembrandt Lighting setup contains three steps, namely taking a K...
Three point lighting is the key to MAKING videos look professional. Tom Skowronski, the associate editor of Videomaker, guides us through the process of three point lighting. Three point lighting involves the use of three types of light to create a professional appearance when video taping. First, a key light is used to provide bright illumination of the subject. Then, a fill light cleans up the dark areas on the face. Lastly, a backlight fills serves to separate the subject from the background.
A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today’s digital cinematographer? I’m glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scen...
Aperture's white balance adjustment helps you improve the quality of colors in your images, correcting for a camera that wasn't properly calibrated for the lighting conditions under which it was used.
No light no movie. Indy Mogul teaches you how to create your own basic lighting kit for $25. Also covered are lighting basics, including three-point lighting.
Not all of us have an entire photo studio in our houses. In fact, unless you're a professional photographer, you probably don't have much space at all in which to create solid looking shots.
What is the difference between a F1.8 lens and a F5.6 lens? It's really very simple! F8.1 has a much larger lens, and therefore it allows more light to pass through. There are several benefits in having a larger lens. Number one: The quality of the background is improved. Number two: Your focus speed is faster. Number three: Low light ability is better. F1.8 lens are a professional level. F5.6 lens are the commercial kind. For a higher quality photo, you might consider using a larger size lens.
Prevent indoor lighting problems with these great tips. -When a window is behind the object, bring lights closer to object or use a reflector using the light from the window to create a 3 point lighting effect.
Check out this video tutorial to show you how to use the Sony DSR-PD170 MiniDV camcorder. This video was made by the equipment room at CUNY Journalism School in New York.
Ever wonder how to create movie magic right in your own home? This video shows you step by step everything you need to know and do to create the green screen effect, from properly setting up your green screen, to lighting it, as well as your subjects for a successful effect. Filled with tips and instructions this is a great video to watch for filmmakers, and special effects artist of all kinds.
Installing security lights outside of your home can make for a great addition, but they also create new problems with regards to maintenance and cleaning. Having lights outside exposes them to all of the elements that mother nature can throw at them. This video will show not only how to install security lights, it will also show the proper measures to take so they will keep working with minimal maintenance and care.
This lighting tutorial video explains the basics of lighting a scene using the 3 point lighting scheme with a Lowell light kit and various essential equipment. Using the back light, the fill and key light, three point lighting will produce a properly lit subject. This video is great for lighting designers and cinematographers alike.
Ring Lights can create a specific lighting that brings out warmer hues from your actors/models, as well as giving you a cool effect for the eyes. If you're not looking to spend a fortune on buying an already made one, you can make one with items from around the house on the cheap, if you have to buy everything you need, you're looking to spend around $100 which is much cheaper than buying one brand new! Check out this video for a full tutorial on how to build your very own Ring Light!
This is my homemade led light system. The main unit has a total of 228 LED's, the corners are using super wide angle LED's to maximize visibility. There are also 48 LED mini lightbar, 5x 16 LED mini modules.
Does your video look flat? By using Three Point Lighting, you will be able to give your flat video more dimension. In this tutorial, Israel Hyman demonstrates the effects of the key light, the fill light, and the back light. This is a long standing lighting technique that you definitely should know if you plan on shooting any type of video.
Three point lighting can be used to achieve professional studio results. For this, you will need: a key light, a fill light, and a backlight.
Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a good solid video/film. You will see a great example of a ringlight made of 12 lightbulbs arranged in a perfect circle with a cut-out to allow your camera to be in the middle to capture the best light. You will get an idea of just what materials you will need to create your own ring light.
Take Zer0 covers the topic of lighting, again, because lighting is and always will be an expansive area. We begin by describing the reasons why proper lighting will help to accentuate a scene. And lastly is a visual demonstration of how one common lighting technique can be applied.
This is a creative idea for a great light effect for any video project. If you're a cinematographer and are open to knew and creative ideas (and cheap!), then this colorful, moving lighting effect is perfect for your film. You'll need three plastic cups, a 5/16-inch metal rod about 2-feet long, gaffers tape, packaging tape, drill and a light. You can get the plastic cups from the dollar store, which won't cost you more than three bucks! They need to be translucent and have the colors you want...
In this video from FiveSprockets we learn how to light an interior space while filming on a budget. For this you need two Chinese lanterns which he found for $2.95 each. You need 2 light bulbs which he found for $3.95 each. Make sure you get extra ones. Then get a couple of pan lights. They are day light and mood light. They were $7 and $5. You also need a multi colored gel pack which is $6.00. He uses C-stands to hold the lights up but he suggests coming up with other ways if you don't have ...
Three point lighting is the standard used to illuminate a subject for amateur film, video, and even theater application.
Interviewing lighting basic training tutorial provides easy to follow instruction in this step by step video. Set up the interview area to allow the best camera angles. Place your lights in key, fill, and backlight positions. Use back lighting spillover to fill subject area without camera spillover. Check your setup with the subjects and make any necessary adjustments to your camera or lighting angles. Place your crew and your ready for your interview. This scenario using key, fill, and back-...
Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, advises viewers on the proper procedure for lighting a green screen. The successfully implemented chroma key technique can significantly raise the production value of any video podcast. He gives specific advice on how to separate the light that falls on the subject from the light on the greenscreen, a traditionally tricky technique.
In this how-to video, you will learn how to light your web show. This is important as it will make your web show look more professional. Proper lighting allows you to see your face, eyes, and the colors of your shirt. If there is not enough light, you cannot see yourself as well. You will also look dark and grainy. Too much light will cause your face to look too hot. Backlit lighting will cause your face to be too dark because the light is in the background. This is why background lighting is...
Know a little bit about film lighting, but can't quite grasp the concept of using light meters to measure light for proper exposure? You can't rely on your video camera to accurately capture what you see, so you need light meters to properly and accurately capture what you have created on set.
Learn how to make an adjustable light stand. This adjustable telescoping light stand is cheap if you have all of the materials already, like a painter's pole, a metal table leg, scrap wood and some screws. This light stand is a good choice for film shoots on a low-budget. Who needs expensive light stands anyways?
Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tutorial on how to design your own barn doors. A great addition to any low-budget filmmaker's lighting kit.