Lighting blog tasks

1) Still image analysis


Look at the still images on slides 33-37 of the Film Language Powerpoint linked above. Copy the images into your blog and answer the following questions for each image:
  1. Identify examples of high and low-key lighting.
  2. Say which depict top, back or under lighting.
  3. What effects are created by the lighting in each image?
  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses back lighting + lack of filler lights
  3. This has been done to create an air of mystery around her as her face is in the shadows and the smoke is visible which helps to further obscure her.
  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses top lighting + lack of filler lights
  3. This has been done in order to create shadows which hide the characters body making her appear as a floating head with only some of her hands visible. Furthermore the top light accentuates her features in order to make her appear more glamorous.

  1. This is an example of high-key lighting
  2. It uses both top and back lighting
  3. This has been done in order to accentuate his features making him appear to look like royalty.

  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses both top and back lighting
  3. This has been done in order to make him appear more gritty

  1. This is an example of high-key lighting
  2. It uses top lighting + lack of filler lights
  3. This has been done in order to make the actress appear more glamorous while also creating some mystery due to her expression and the large shadow on her.

  1. This is an example of high-key lighting
  2. This has ambient lighting
  3. This has been done in order to make the scene appear natural as if it is something that could take place in the real world.

E:\My docs\My Pictures\Film Stills\clockwork1.jpg
  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses back lighting
  3. This has been done in order to create a silhouette of the characters making them appear shady and mysterious.

E:\My docs\My Pictures\Film Stills\chienandolou1_cmyk.jpg
  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses back lighting
  3. This has been done in order to create suspense as we can only see her face clearly and she looks distressed.

E:\My docs\My Pictures\Film Stills\Joanofarc1.jpg
  1. This is an example of high-key lighting
  2. It uses top and back lighting
  3. This has been done in order to give the image a softer and rounder feel which gives of a calmer feel.
E:\My docs\My Pictures\Film Stills\H_003_rgb.jpg
  1. This is an example of low-key lighting
  2. It uses ambient lighting
  3. This has been done in order to create a feeling of terror as the only things that can be seen clearly in the image are the mask and the knife.

E:\My docs\My Pictures\Film Stills\double.jpg
  1. This is an example of high-key lighting
  2. It uses top and back lighting + lack of filler lights
  3. This has been done in order to create softer lighting which gives off a more romantic feel.

2) Film noir research

Research film noir - focusing on the genre’s distinctive lighting style. Make notes on the genre and particularly the use of lighting - bullet points are fine.

  • Film noir is used primarily to describe Hollywood crime dramas particularly ones portraying a more cynical attitude.
  • Film noir is associated with low-key black and white visual style which has roots in German expressionist cinematography
  • The name 'film noir' was given to the genre by French critic Nino Frank in 1946
  • Film noir literally translates to 'black film' or 'dark film'
  • Before being known as 'film noir' most were regarded as melodramas
  • Whether 'film noir' is a genre or a film making style is up for debate
  • Lots of films released after the 1960's share attributes with classical film noir
  • People refer to these works as neo-noir.

3) Film noir YouTube clip analysis


Finally, find a YouTube clip that fits the film noir genre and embed it under your research (the clip can be classic noir from the 1950's or something more recent - neo-noir). How does the clip's lighting fit the film noir genre?

 

This clip is from the movie "Double Indemnity" made in 1944. This clip features a lot of high key lighting and uses top lighting as it potentially features the main love interest of the main character and so they want to make her appear glamorous. film noir also usually contains a femme fatale so this could also potentially be an explanation for who this character could be, the lighting makes it so that she appears beautiful which is one of the main characteristics of a femme fatale 

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