Many techniques have been developed over the years to create appropriate lighting, both so there is enough light to operate the camera and so that the proper mood or reality is established for the scene. But lighting is very much a creative process, and usually there is no one right way to light a set. The techniques serve as a starting point that may then be fine-tuned.

Lighting can be dangerous and time-consuming. The discipline needed to think about safety cannot be overemphasized nor can the fact that lighting must be carefully planned so it can be executed as quickly as possible. Both techniques and disciplines figure heavily in this chapter as it covers the following:

• The difference between incident and reflected light (6.1)
• General illumination principles such as intensity, contrast ratio, and color temperature (6.2)
• How and when to use a light meter (6.2)
• How to accomplish creative lighting objectives such as shape, reality, mood, and focus of attention (6.3)
• The different types of lamps used in lighting instruments such as quartz, high-frequency fluorescents, and HMIs (6.4)
• The differences between spotlights and floodlights (6.4)
• The key, fill, and backlights needed for three-point lighting and their approximate ratios (6.5)
• Set lights and kicker lights (6.5)
• Principles for multicamera, cameo, silhouette, chroma key, and HDTV lighting (6.5)
• How to mount lights (6.6)
• Equipment principles used to create intensity, diffusion, shape, and color (6.7)
• The need for a light plot (6.8)
• How to set up lights (6.8)
• The importance of safety (6.9)