"A lighting technician is involved with rigging stage and location sets and controlling artificial, electric lights for art and entertainment venues or in video, television, or film production."
Different types of lighting setups used in video/film and how to achieve them using various lighting equipment.
Lighting fundamentals: Understanding the basics of lighting, including light sources, color temperature, intensity, and shadow.
Lighting equipment: Understanding different types of lighting equipment, including lamps, reflectors, diffusers, and color filters.
Lighting setup: Understanding how to set up lighting for different shooting situations, including indoor and outdoor settings.
Lighting techniques: Understanding different lighting techniques, including three-point lighting, soft lighting, and hard lighting.
Key light: Understanding the key light and how to position it for different types of shots.
Fill light: Understanding the fill light and how it balances with the key light.
Backlight: Understanding the back light and how it helps to separate the subject from the background.
Color temperature: Understanding how to use color temperature to create different moods and effects in video/film.
Color gels: Understanding how to use color gels to change the color of the lights and create different moods.
Lighting ratios: Understanding how to use lighting ratios to create different types of contrast between light and shadow.
Natural lighting: Understanding how to use natural lighting in video/film, including using windows and natural light sources.
Lighting for different types of shots: Understanding how lighting can be adjusted for different types of shots, including close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots.
Lighting safety: Understanding safety precautions when working with lighting equipment to avoid accidents.
Lighting budget: Understanding how to choose lighting equipment based on budget constraints.
Lighting software: Understanding how to use lighting software to simulate different lighting setups and effects.
Three-point lighting: This technique uses three lights to illuminate the subject: a key light, fill light, and back light. The key light is the primary source of light, the fill light serves to soften shadows created by the key light, and the back light provides depth and separates the subject from the background.
High-key lighting: This technique uses bright and even lighting to create a cheerful and positive mood. It is often used in comedies, musicals, and commercials.
Low-key lighting: This technique uses shadows and darkness to create a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere. It is commonly used in horror, film noir, and thriller movies.
Silhouette lighting: This technique uses backlighting to create a dark, shadowy figure of the subject. It is an effective way to emphasize the shape and contours of a subject.
Rembrandt lighting: This technique uses a single light source to create a triangular patch of light on one side of the subject's face, with the eye on that side partially in shadow. This technique creates a dramatic and 3-dimensional look.
Butterfly lighting: This technique uses a single light source placed above and in front of the subject, creating a butterfly-shaped shadow under the subject's nose. It is commonly used in glamour photography.
Soft lighting: This technique uses diffused light sources to create a soft and even light, ideal for romantic or flattering shots.
Hard lighting: This technique uses harsh, direct light to create a stark, sharp image. It is often used in war or action films to create a sense of urgency.
Day-for-night lighting: This technique uses blue filters and dimmed lighting to create a nighttime effect during daylight hours.
Practical lighting: This technique uses existing light sources within the scene, such as lamps or candles, to create a natural or realistic effect.
Motivated lighting: This technique uses light sources that appear to be motivated by the scene, such as light coming from a window or streetlamp.
Fill lighting: This technique adds light to fill in shadows created by other lighting sources, creating a more even overall lighting effect.
Color lighting: This technique uses colored gels or filters on lights to create a specific color or mood.
Accent lighting: This technique uses a single light source to highlight a specific object or person within the scene.
Cinematic lighting: This technique uses a combination of lighting techniques to create a cinematic and visually stunning image. It is often used in big-budget Hollywood movies.
"Lighting technicians work under the lighting designer and master electrician."
"Lighting technicians work under the direction of the gaffer or chief lighting technician who takes their direction from the cinematographer."
"Lighting technicians work under the lighting director."
"All heads of department report to the production manager."
"Lighting Technicians are responsible for the movement and set up of various pieces of lighting equipment, lay electrical cables, wire fixtures, install color effects or image patterns, focus the lights, and assist in creating effects or programming sequences."
"A lighting technician's work concerns safety of rigging and working with objects which can be very heavy and get very hot."
"Sets and stage are safer through this program." (referring to the Entertainment Technicians Certification Program)
"The Entertainment Stage Technologies Association (ESTA) with their Entertainment Technicians Certification Program (ETCP)."
"The International Alliance of Television Stage Employees (IATSE) Hollywood chapter local #728"
"Rigging stage and location sets, controlling artificial lights, and working in video, television, film production, or live music venues."
"Separation of light and shadow or contrast" helps in creating visual effects.
"Basic skill sets are now standardized" through this program.
"A lighting technician assists in creating effects or programming sequences."
"Working with objects which can be very heavy and get very hot."
"The master electrician works under the lighting designer and oversees the work of lighting technicians."
"The gaffer or chief lighting technician gives direction to the lighting technicians."
"The production manager is responsible for overseeing all heads of departments."
"Lighting technicians can install color effects or image patterns."
"The Entertainment Stage Technologies Association (ESTA)" certifies lighting technicians through their Entertainment Technicians Certification Program (ETCP).