Four Classic Lighting Techniques

In TV production, the are ways to achieve the desired look you want. Whether it be a bright and vibrant look, or a dark or shadowed look, there are four classic lighting techniques that are used to execute some excellent filming. Here are some examples of the lighting techniques. We took pictures of fellow students in Professor Harwood's Advanced TV Production and Editing class.

The classmate of whom I worked with was Ashailyn Gleaton and Christian Manning. These are the four classic lighting techniques:

Rembrandt

This lighting is used when the key light light is set at a downward angle at a 45 degree angle in front of the subject, the fill light is set opposite to the key light, even to the subject's face, and the back light is set high at a 45 degree angle, like the key light.

Split/90 Degree

The Split (or 90 Degree) lighting is made when the key light is placed at the eye level of the subject, and 90 degrees to the side of the subject's face.

Broad

Similar but not the same as Rembrandt, this technique is set up exactly the same, but the subject's face is turned off-center. This results in the broader side, the side turned towards the camera, is in the light.

Butterfly

This lighting is named for the butterfly shaped shadow that is created under the nose by placing the main light either directly above or below the camera. Shooting will have to take place under the light source in order to capture this look. This type of lighting is mostly used in glamour shots to create shadows under the cheeks and chin of the subject.