Lighting Tests

In order to understand how lighting can help during filming, and how different types of lighting can portray a character's persona,  we took a piece of lighting equipment and a camera and tried to see how we could portray a person using lighting.
 
In most of the photos, my expression is neutral, however the angle of the lighting and colour of it can still change the feeling or connotations of the shot.

In this first shot, for example, the under lighting on my face could connote that a character is untrustworthy. Lighting like this is commonly used in films where the main character has to go to another character for something that they need in order to complete their goals within the film.

In this second shot, the lighting casts a shadow over my face, this hides some of my features. When characters have features of their faces hidden they are usually an important character in the film that is "pulling the strings" and making things happen to the main character. A plot like this is usually found in superhero films or Spy films such as Spectre, the James Bond film. This type of lighting creates intrigue about the character, which can be useful for building suspense in a thriller film. Moreover, the lighting is quite intense, like a spotlight, this is often seen in crime dramas where a light is moved onto someone's face.



In this photo, only half of my face is visible, creating a mysterious air about the character or a sense of intrigue. Shots like this are commonly also used on characters that are quite sinister and deceptive, this is linked as some of the face is hidden, connoting that not everything is known about the character yet.

 

A shot with lighting like this is often used in scenes where someone is moving around in a partially lit room, for example a horror scene where a character is moving around a house with a killer in there with them. this shot does cover part of the face, as well as drawing the audience's attention to the character's face. Moreover, it reveals enough to show the detail of emotion on the character's face.

Moving on, in this shot the light is quite intense and is pointing almost directly at my face. This can connote that a character is in a vulnerable position, for example a criminal may have just been caught by the police after being on the run in a chase scene. Another time that this shot is used could be in a theatrical reveal. For example, when a character that has been kept mysterious throughout the film is finally shown, it may be that they have a spotlight move to their face.

In the final shot, the light is quite weak as well as at an angle. This resembles a light that could be coming from another room and shining through into the place where the character is (possibly outside but most likely another room). This connotes that the character is listening in or spying on someone.