Looking good with lighting
We all watch films and have recorded videos ourselves. Yet, you may notice that homemade videos often fall short of looking like major film productions. The single most important element, I’d argue, in making every frame of a movie look like a beautiful photograph is lighting. Every day, we experience light—whether it’s the sun casting long, beautiful shadows at dusk, the pitch-black night sky pierced by stars, or a small, warm, soft lamp glowing in the corner of our rooms. Our interaction with light is a fundamental part of being human. What’s fascinating is that, while we encounter light and shadow every day, few of us understand how to harness it to create beauty.
My earliest memories of noticing and studying light were in class, watching a ray of sunlight streaming through a window and observing dust particles dancing in its warmth. This interaction captivated me, sparking an obsession. Little did I know this single moment would ignite a curiosity that would eventually become my main focus as a Director of Photography. Fast forward to today, and I’ve had the opportunity to shoot and release various projects.
One example is a corporate video (click) Horse’s Mouth Media produced a few years ago for Oxford PV, which highlights how sometimes a minimal setup can be the most effective approach for a corporate video.
In this particular shot, we wanted to convey a sense of urgency and importance to the viewer, so we had our host walk directly toward the camera. We positioned him so that the sun was lighting him from behind, which helped him stand out clearly against the background. If, instead, he had been facing the light, the image would have been lower in contrast and less impactful.
With the sun lighting him from behind, we needed a way to brighten his face. To achieve this, we used a reflector. Simply put, a reflector does exactly what its name suggests: it takes available light and reflects it back, adding a natural-looking brightness. In film, this level of brightness is called “exposure.”
One project Horse’s Mouth Media worked on was for a charity called Back Up, which supports people and families affected by debilitating spinal injuries. We were asked to film a mini-documentary (click) based on Ollie, who suffered a severe motorcycle accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. In speaking with him, we aimed to create an intimate setting that would allow viewers to empathise with him.
For our interview setup, we lit Ollie with a single key light (main light) on the right side of his face, which left the left side of his face in shadow, enhancing the mood and focus on his expression.
As you can see, this single light, combined with a large amount of shadow, gives the interview a dramatic feel. Shining a bare light directly on someone, however, creates harsh, unpleasant shadows. To soften these shadows, we placed a softbox over the light, making them less sharp.
You may also notice a light source in the background, which was very intentional. We lit the background with a practical light panel—in simple terms, we placed a light on the floor and directed it toward the shelf. This additional light made the scene feel warmer and more inviting. Since we were filming in Ollie’s home, it was important not to make it look like a film set but rather to capture the space authentically.
