Hot Film & Photography Lighting How-Tos
How To: Make an adjustable light stand
Learn how to make an adjustable light stand. This adjustable telescoping light stand is cheap if you have all of the materials already, like a painter's pole, a metal table leg, scrap wood and some screws. This light stand is a good choice for film shoots on a low-budget. Who needs expensive light stands anyways?
How To: Make a folding reflector from cardboard and foil
Learn how to make a folding reflector from cardboard and foil. This is essentially free if you have all of the materials already, like cardboard, golden aluminum foil, tape and scissors. This foldable light reflector is a good choice for outdoor film shoots on a low-budget. When you can't bring lights to your film shoot outdoors, let the light come to you!
How To: Make a 400-watt video light for film or photography
Bring a little life to your films, or maybe a little "light". Watch this video to see how to make your own 400-watt video light for film or photography. You can make this video light with mere parts from the local hardware store, such as plastic paneling (which is cheap, easy to cut and non-conductive), zip ties, 4 plastic bulb sockets, lamp cord (like Romex), a cheap plug, and good and cheap diffusion. With all of these materials, you'll have your own homemade light for any film or photo pro...
How To: Film machinima of World of Warcraft with good lighting
Ian Beckman of Azerothian Super Villains fame introduces the third installment of How 2 Machinima. This series of tutorials is aimed to introduce both the fundamentals and advanced techniques of WoW machinima-making. Use Adobe Premiere to model machinima and create proper machinima or video game films. Change the lighting to diffused, specular or ambient lighting.
How To: Use a light meter to properly light a digital film
A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today’s digital cinematographer? I’m glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scen...
How To: Display lightning FX & fog into back of tombstone
Check out this demonstrational video to learn how to create lighting FX and fog behind the back of a tombstone that's a great prop for Halloween sets.
How To: Make cheap lighting & barn doors
Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tutorial on how to design your own barn doors. A great addition to any low-budget filmmaker's lighting kit.
How To: Use basic three point lighting
This instructional lighting video produced by CMP students at Seneca College demonstrates the basics of three point lighting, the arrangement of the shooting space, organization of gear, and safety on set. This video is great for students learning the ropes of cinematography and lighting basics.
How To: Create infinite white lighting cheaply
Going towards the infinite white light means something totally different these days. When we talk about the infinite white light, we're thinking less spiritual and more aesthetically pleasing. That's because a background consisting of a blurry, infinite white light is one of the most flattering you can use for a human subject.
How To: Use 3 point lighting
This lighting tutorial video explains the basics of lighting a scene using the 3 point lighting scheme with a Lowell light kit and various essential equipment. Using the back light, the fill and key light, three point lighting will produce a properly lit subject. This video is great for lighting designers and cinematographers alike.
How To: Use low cost fluorescent lights when shooting video
See the low cost fluorescent lights Bill Myers uses when shooting video, and how to quickly set your camcorder to get perfect color under these lights.
How To: Use the Altman Light Kit
This is a description on how to use the Altman Swing Pack Light kit, including assembly and proper storage.
How To: Use a Light Meter in the television studio
This short video is of Steve Brunsberg, producer at SPNN, showing us how to use a light meter for video and television.
How To: Apply three point lighting to your amateur film making
Three point lighting is the standard used to illuminate a subject for amateur film, video, and even theater application.
How To: Make a studio light out of a tin can
A brief demo of me making a studio light from a tin can. This video uses a GU-10 light socket and 50W(120v)globe aka bulb.
How To: Modify your studio lights for under $7.00
This video provides a handy guide for modifying bright studio lights with dimmer switches. This video is quite handy for the amateur film maker who is tired of the harsh light from his studio lights.
How To: Use lighting on the cheap
Some tips on how to do professional lighting on the cheap. This video provides low-price lighting tips for students and amateur film-makers alike.
How To: Properly light a blue screen for special effects
This video shows you how to light up a bluescreen for special effects. The bluescreen must be well lit in order for the effect to be more seamless win post production.
How To: Set up three point lighting for film making
This video covers the basic positions and uses for three point lighting: the hair light, the fill light, and the key light.
How To: Create good 3 point lighting for amateur film making
Lighting techniques for your feature or short film. This video covers three point lighting techniques.
How To: Create better lighting for a webcam on a budget
This video focuses on improving your lighting in a small budget webcam setting.
How To: Light your video with three options
You've got a camera, you've got some shooting know-how, and your audio is sounding sweet. Now, what about lighting? This video shows you three options for lighting your film.
How To: Best light your webcam video
Anthony and Ian of Smosh, and Logitech, provide you with some simple tips on how to best light your webcam video shoot. Just don't get caught with your pants down...
How To: Use natural light in your video project
Lets keep this short: you can't control the sun, so it's best to adhere to (or slightly manipulate) it. The perk about natural, outdoor light is that it's free, and lights pretty well.
How To: Film in low light situations using the Canon HV20
The so-called 'photo button trick' can help you get the exposure right, when you film in low light situations / total darkness. The tutorial was made for the Canon HV20 but works for the HG10 as well (they share menu / software).
How To: Create better lighting for your film project
Xander and Calvin give some helpful tips on how to light your films and videos! You can use common household lamps or ones at the hardware store. Remember, safety, get some workgloves.
How To: Set up basic lighting for your film
In this episode, Peter and I talk about Lighting. We go over the different types of light and show examples of each.
How To: Light a scene properly
Take Zer0 covers the topic of lighting, again, because lighting is and always will be an expansive area. We begin by describing the reasons why proper lighting will help to accentuate a scene. And lastly is a visual demonstration of how one common lighting technique can be applied.
How To: Use the sun as a key light for photography and video
Israel Hyman shows yow how to use the sun as a key light for film, video, and photography, including how its angle affects your subject’s look.
How To: Using "three point lighting" for video
We tagged along as Mark gave a 3 point lighting demonstration at a recent Videomaker Workshop.
How To: Cast shadows with cookies for your video
Jennifer shows how to spice up the background of your video using cookies (aka cucaloris or cucalorus). Cookies are lighting accessories that are cut out shapes that cast a shadow.
How To: Create cheap outdoor lighting for filming
Issac demonstrates a couple different outdoor lighting techniques and how "good" outdoor lighting can improve your videos.
How To: Shoot day for night and night for day for movie making
The sun can change positions during a shoot. It's pretty annoying. But don't worry, you can shoot at night and make it look like daylight, as well as shoot during the day and making it look like night. Here are some helpful tips.
How To: Use a C-stand on a movie set
Don't want to look like an idiot your first day on set? Jerkwater from Indy Mogul is here to save the day, by showing you how to use a C-Stand.
How To: Color correct your videos
Mark from Videomaker magazine offers up his knowledge to help you stylize your videos color using computer software. Find out what tools you need, and how to use them.
How To: Use three point lighting
Does your video look flat? By using Three Point Lighting, you will be able to give your flat video more dimension. In this tutorial, Israel Hyman demonstrates the effects of the key light, the fill light, and the back light. This is a long standing lighting technique that you definitely should know if you plan on shooting any type of video.
How To: Improve outdoor interview imagery
Many people like to interview subjects outside because they enjoy the look of sunlight over tungsten lights. However, it can be difficult to work with such an uncooperative key light. In this Israel Hyman video are some ideas which can help you improve your outdoor interview imagery.
How To: Use soft and hard light when shooting videos
In this video podcast episode, Izzy describes hard and soft light and how it affects shadows. He also demonstrates how to soften sunlight when shooting videos.
How To: Light and set a cyclorama shot
A cyclorama shot is a 360 degree panoramic, photographic view of a scene. It's set on a cylindrical platform and is designed to make the viewer feel like he is standing in the middle of it all. A cyclorama shot is a really cool thing to embark on in photography or film.
How To: Light a two-person interview
Learn how to frame and block an over-the-shoulder shot as Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, demonstrates the use of cutters to block lens flair.