Lighting and color play crucial roles in setting the mood and atmosphere of your B-roll footage. Always consider the lighting of your locations. I have seen organizations publish video in dimly lit areas. That’s counterproductive.
If you want to maximize the visual impact of your interviews and B-roll, you need to know how to control and use light to your advantage.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as your filming:
- Understand the Basics: Get to know the direction of natural lighting (the sun), and its intensity. You’ll then be able to position people, objects and your camera in better areas, where the exposure isn’t blown out. And, of course, utilize natural light sources like windows or doors to your advantage. The golden hour (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) is usually the most colorful time to film.
- Create Depth with Background Lighting: If you’re filming an interview, don’t be afraid to have a light source working the background. For our skiing video, we turned on a lamp to light up the wall behind interviews. It helped create a sense of depth, and it separates the subject from the background.
- Consider Color Temperature: Pay attention to the color temperature of your lights and ensure consistency throughout your setup. Some lights give off a light bluish hue (a kitchen light), while others radiate orange or yellow (gym lights). Try, as best as you can, to match the color temperature consistent throughout your entire video. You can also fix this when editing.
- Consider the Story and Emotion: Lastly, always keep in mind the story you want to tell and the emotions you want to evoke. Lighting can influence the mood of a scene. Adjust your lighting choices to reflect the narrative and enhance the viewer’s emotional engagement.
People To Study
One of the most renowned cinematographers known for his exceptional lighting abilities is Roger Deakins. Deakins has worked on numerous acclaimed films, including “Blade Runner 2049,” “No Country for Old Men,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.” He is known for his attention his mastery of lighting. Deakins often employs natural lighting techniques and uses light to enhance the mood and atmosphere of a scene. His work is characterized by its cinematic beauty and the seamless integration of lighting to support the storytelling.
While I don’t expect you alone to have the time and resources to light like Deakins, I do think he can provide a little context and perspective you might appreciate.
Emmanuel Lubezki has earned him numerous accolades, including three consecutive Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, for his lighting. He has an immersive style and uses naturalistic lighting, often reflecting realism and emotional impact of a scene.
His take on lighting may be helpful, as well.
Give your videos your best effort. Your audience will be able to tell if you’re not using the best.