Light & location
Using window light for an interview
Window light can carry an interview when direction, distance and changes over time are checked first.
18 articles
Light & location
Adapt light sources, reflections and backgrounds to the available space.
Light & location
Lighting a person with one light
One light can shape a face when room reflections and background are considered deliberately.
Light & location
Choosing soft or hard light
Soft or hard primarily describes shadow edges. Brightness and contrast are separate choices.
Light & location
Shaping contrast with negative fill
Black surfaces reduce reflected light and can shape the shadow side without adding another lamp.
Light & location
Reducing reflections in glasses
Glasses reveal the light source. Small changes in angle can clear the eyes without forcing the speaker into an unnatural posture.
Light & location
Recognising mixed lighting indoors
One white balance cannot always correct differently coloured sources. What matters is which light reaches the face.
Light & location
Separating a speaker from the background
Distance, brightness and colour can distinguish a speaker from the background. A separate rim light is only one option.
Light & location
Using practical lights in the frame
A visible lamp can explain the room and motivate its lighting. Its brightness still needs to work with the face and camera.
Light & location
Arranging a small room for video
In a tight room, camera, lighting and microphone compete for space. Begin with framing and movement routes.
Light & location
Lighting a green screen evenly
An evenly lit green background makes keying easier. Prepare the screen, speaker and replacement scene separately.
Light & location
Shaping reflections on glossy products
Glossy surfaces reveal their surroundings. Shape the bright and dark areas they reflect instead of trying to remove every reflection.
Light & location
Managing changing daylight
Clouds and moving sunlight change connected shots. Locked exposure alone does not make the lighting consistent.
Light & location
Dimming and testing LED lights
An LED can look clean at full output yet misbehave when dimmed. Test the exact fixture, dimming level and camera settings together.
Light & location
Working around unflattering overhead light
Light directly overhead can shadow eyes and overemphasise the forehead or table. Seating position is often the first useful adjustment.
Light & location
Assembling a portable lighting kit
A portable kit includes support, power and modifiers as well as fixtures. Plan it around a specific recording situation.
Light & location
Understanding light distance and falloff
Distance changes more than brightness. It affects differences between speaker and background, and the impact of small movements.
Light & location
Finding open shade outdoors
Not every shaded position gives calm facial light. Check the open sky, the ground and moving patches of sun.
Light & location
Choosing background colours for a speaker
Background colour should support clothing, skin and graphics. Test the actual surface under the intended light.