While there are many ways to edit a video, the lighting used significantly impacts the quality of the captured footage.
Without adequate lighting, your video will appear dull, grainy, or flat, with lost details in shadows or overly harsh highlights. Good lighting enhances the visibility of objects and people, adds depth, and shapes the mood and tone of your video, making it more engaging.
Benefits of good lighting and the quality it has on a video
With good lighting, it is possible to capture specific image details and textures that poor light may not be able to capture. A camera’s sensors may struggle to capture every detail, which can lead to the graininess that can be experienced in some video footage.
Good lighting also helps to set the mood and emotion that the creator wants to convey to their audience. Soft lighting can help to create a more natural look, which can evoke calm emotions and vibes in the audience. Darkness can create tense moments, which can help to add drama and build tension when required.
As mentioned, there are many ways in which the video’s quality can be edited to increase the effectiveness of the footage. Editors will strive for color accuracy, using resources like LUTs. LUT, or Lookup Table, is a file containing numerical data used to alter the colors and tones of images or videos. It essentially acts as a preset filter that can be applied to transform footage into a desired look, often used for color correction and color grading. LUTs are crucial for maintaining consistency in color across different shots and for achieving specific cinematic or stylistic effects.
Other techniques can involve using editing techniques that eliminate or air-brush certain aspects that incorrect lighting can provide. For instance, shadows are a natural byproduct of light shining down on an object. If the lighting isn’t accurate, shadows can appear that alter the overall tone and emotion of the footage. Reducing these can be crucial, which is why it is essential to ensure the right lighting is in place.
How can video lightning be improved?
Although video editing software and tools offer advanced capabilities, many old-school methods should be practiced as standard to ensure shots are captured in the right type of light.
A three-point lighting setup is a classic method that should still be adopted for every shot. The three points involve the following:
- Key Light: Main light source placed at 45 degrees to the subject to brighten features.
- Fill Light: Positioned opposite the key light to soften shadows.
- Backlight: Placed behind the subject to separate them from the background, adding depth.
Softboxes, diffusers, and natural overcast daylight can also be used to create gentle lighting. This lighting will be even, wrapping around the objects in the video to reduce the likelihood of harsh shadows and contrast in tones and colors.
While a LUT can help create a consistent look across footage, keeping all lights used for a shot helps maintain balance with each piece of footage, thus reducing the need to spend time editing shots post-production. If all lights use the same light color temperature, consistency can be achieved.
Ring lights can be a great additional source of light that can help to brighten the quality of a video, especially if shot on a smartphone. With the way these are designed, light is dramatically improved as it is instantly shone by the camera, meaning it will pick up everything in a brighter way. The best ring lights can allow you to adjust the light levels, giving users control over how the footage appears.
Natural light can often be the best course of action, depending on the content of the video being captured. To capture footage with soft lighting that evokes warm feelings in the audience, try capturing the sunlight at sunrise and just before sunrise. In contrast, a tense drama or horror is more effective when set against the darkness of the evenings, with settings often being pitch-black or transitioning to darkness, creating an eerie environment.
Lightning must be balanced
It’s crucial to recognize the importance of getting the lighting right on video footage, as it can have a significant impact on how the audience perceives the footage.
However, mastering lighting techniques can be tough. It’s important to balance the amount of light to avoid washing out details or leaving areas too dark.
