Friday, October 14, 2016

Lighting Black people for TV and Movies

Ever see a Black person in a TV show, commercial or movie but can't really see them because they were lit wrong or look as if they were not lit at all?

Lighting is an art ... and panting a picture with lights is a skill that takes time and effort to learn.

Black TV shows are great examples of how to light African American cast, background and close ups.

Use of reflectors, mirrors and bounce cards are very helpful to cast light on dark skin because darker skin tones absorbs more light than lighter skin tones.

If you have a cast with a white person, a light skinned black person and a dar skinned black person you have to pay close attention to how you are lighting each individual to get a harmonious picture with everyone represented in their best light, no one is washed out and no one is lost to the shadows.

Here are some images from Black TV shows to help see how the talent and background are lit. Notice the colors selected for the background blend well with the various African American skin tones. Clothing color affects the image as well.



















                                      


A movie with great lighting for Black actors is Idlewild













Great article on lighting various skin tones here The Art of Lighting Dark Skin for Film and HD

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