Journal: Lighting

Overexposure

The overexposure in this still from Black Swan gives off a sort of glow on Natalie Portman's dress. This almost heavenly glow fits for the character early on in the story, reflecting her innocence. This portrays a scene in Swan Lake before the princess is turned in to a swan and thrown in turmoil, so the overxposure works well. 

Underexposure

This scene utilizes underexposure which works well when portraying the evil witch/sorcerer who turns the princess into a swan in Swan Lake. He also represents fear for Natalie Portman's character and the growing chaos in her life. The underexposure creates a menacing shot.



High Contrast

High contrast is used in this still from Moulin Rouge which creates a romantic but dark picture, fitting because this is the scene before Satine meets her lover Christian and before their twisted fate.

 

Low Contrast

We have low contrast in this scene from Requiem for a Dream creating a dullness in color, fitting as the characters are a bit lost in their lives.

 

Hard/Direct Light

In another scene from Black Swan, we have direct light, focusing in on our star of Swan Lake, casting a glow on her. As mentioned previously, this glow shows her innocence but the surrounding darkness closing in on here is representational of the corruption she faces in the rest of the film.

 

 Soft Light

500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy and like most romantic comedies, utilizes soft light. this light flatters Summer in the shot and adds to the upbeat and bright cinematography throughout the films. Tom, the main character, sees Summer as his perfect girl, and the soft light helps to carry that image of perfection with its flattering effects on Summer.

 

Flat Lighting

In the same film, we have flat light, also utilized throughout. The intensity of the key and fill lights appear to be the same and no shadows are casted. We get a dream like effect I feel, which is fitting since Tom is imagining this scene during the film.

 

 Low Key Lighting

This scene in Memoirs of a Geisha utilizes low key lighting, with the right said of her face well-lit while the other has been casted in a shadow. This fits here for the underground and secrative world of geisha houses. The light side of her face may represents her innocence, but the dark side could be from the underworld of geisha houses pulling her in.

 

High Key Lighting

Here we see high key lighting, as this film utilizes both that and soft and flat lighting. Without much contrast used, there is no intensity in the shot. It adds to the romaticism of the film and adds to its realism, fitting as the ending is a lot more realistic than most romantic comedies. This isn't your typical or expected happy ending.

 

Backlight

In this still from the TV show American Horror Story, backlighting is used. It appears to be coming from the windows, alluding to natural light. As the pair are holding a baby, the bright backlight adds to the innocence of the shot, a stark contrast from the horror elements of the rest of the film.

 

Presentational Lighting

This shot of Anderson Cooper utilizes presentational lighting. It is obvious that this shot is set up, as he is looking at the camera and three point lighting is used.

 

Representational Lighting

Representational lighting is used in this shot from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as the couple is seen outside by the ocean. Although natural light would appear to be used, this dream sequence may have also have benefited from artificial light.

 

Motivated Lighting

We see key light, backlight, and fill light used in this shot, creating motivated lighting throughout. There are shadows cast on James Bond creating an ominous effect. He appears dangerous with the lighting which represents him well.