MODULE C (Technical production)
Lighting Techniques
The Four Fundamentals and examples of lighting techniques
Atmosphere
This photo shows how I can use lights to create an atmosphere. The atmosphere is the way that lights can create a mood, feel, location or era. I can create an atmosphere in the theatre using haze and specific light and colours that match the mood of the performance, or the setting of where the production Is set.
Illumination
Illumination is lighting to do with visibility and what needs to be lit. Specifically lighting parts of the set, deck, and performers. I can create an atmosphere by using specific spots or washes to light up specific parts of the stage. E.g., Lighting the stage, the set, the actors, and ambient lighting.
Dimension
Dimension is about the shape, depth, and positioning of lights to make the audience feel more involved with the performance. Dimension can be achieved by positioning lights to give the performance depth we can also do this by creating shapes with the light to create depth.
Selectivity
Selectivity means we can purposely choose to light something for a purpose or effect. I can do this by using things such as intensity, and the selection of the light to produce a different effect and therefore light something else. We can see in this photo that the lighting designer has purposely used selective lighting to only light the actors.
Front Light
This photo on the right shows what the front light looks like. The front light is when a light is shined onto the actor so you can see the whole actor. The front light evenly illuminates the subject. You would use this technique if you wanted to illuminate an actor.
Side Light
The photo on the right shows what side lighting looks like. Side lighting is used in theatre to give shape to people on stage. This can be achieved by placing two profiles on either side of the actor. You would use this if you wanted to cast a specific shadow somewhere.
Up Light
Uplight is when the light is positioned at the
Front of the stage this created an ominous effect. This type of lighting would most commonly be used in genres such as horror and would be achieved with strip lights.
Down Light
In the photo on the right, we can see downlight means that the light is coming directly down casting a shadow on the face of the actor so that the audience still cannot identify the actor meaning that this still has an eerie feeling.
Back Light
Back light is when the profile is shining from behind the actor to create a silhouette. The mood this light gives off is quite a dark and eerie one as we can exactly see who the actor is. This lighting may be used to represent an evil character of some sort.
