High-Key Narrative Lighting | Cinematography 101

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Lighting narrative scenes is one of the most common situations you will find yourself in as a cinematographer. Some scripts call for dark, moody lighting, while others require a brighter overall frame. High-key refers to a scene that has very few shadows in the frame. Today, director of photography Austin Sabado teaches us three different ways to shoot high-key narrative scenes, using bounced light, practicals, and small accents to fill shadows.

In this video, Austin shows us three different methods for creating high-key narrative lighting. In our first setup, he creates a nighttime interior while still maintaining a high-key look. This is done using practicals in the frame and an overall warm color to the lighting. In our second setup, he uses the same setup but changes the scene to a day interior. He then supplements the available daylight to reduce the contrast of the scene. In the third and last setup, he creates another day interior using a large bounced light and overhead fill. In addition to large sources he uses practicals to add interest points to the frame.

The main techniques that we will be discussing today are 1) Pay attention to the small details.
2) Look for practicals. 3) Think about how your lights are being motivated. Paying attention to the small details means scanning the frame to look for dark spots or other distracting elements. Looking for practicals means seeing if there are any lights in-frame and how you can utilize them, or adding your own practicals. Motivating your lights means being intentional about where your light is coming from within the scene. This could be a lamp off screen or a large window.

As filmmakers we are always trying to tell stories better. That means using lighting to enhance the emotion of the script, and create a unique experience for our viewers. Different lighting styles will create different feelings and emotions. A dark scene will create one feeling while a brightly lit scene will create a completely different feeling. The most important thing is what works best for the story and what looks best in the space. That way your films will stand out not just visually but also thematically.

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Aputure's YouTube channel provides free high-quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[aputurelighting]

Tell us about your favorite example of high key lighting in a TV show or movie. How is it used to help tell the story?

[MatthewSeest]

Her (2013) directed by Spike Jonze used high key lighting to brilliantly set up this clean, dream-like future world. It accentuated the immersive and simple art design and pastel palette in a manner that was a feast for the eyes. At every moment of the film the atmosphere presented by the high-key either emphasized the idealism of the future and a budding relationship, or juxtaposed brilliantly as the turmoil of a individual is caught in a bright world where everything is connected.

[adolfodominguez]

I love the use of this kind of lighting in tree of life, when the protagonist remembers his mom, in their house. The lightning makes you feel like they are on their home, like it's capturing a moment from their lives, their happy, comfortable light. And, it's amazing the job El Chivo did using natural lighting.

[JonathanWayneAndress]

Solely because of these lighting classes Aputure is now the only youtube channel I have on a notification. Keep em coming.

[ISunnyChicken]

The interior shots in the Umbrella Academy are incredible! They use some incredible use of low key lighting, but the scenes they use high lighting in are amazing as well!!

[andreathode]

@1:19 thats some serious business right there! 😂

[videocasetteTV]

Very wonderful, I have suggestion i hope the admin forward it to the CEO, why you do not shoot the behind the scenes, so in case if you want to see it you can click in the link in the description, this will be Very useful because during the final tweaks, we will see many tips and tricks, and better usage for the lighting fixtures, also my suggestion will not add extra expanse, and the good thing it will increase the traffic on the channel, because many videographers want to know how Dps adjust and polish their work

[calebrobertson]

I might be biased as a big Tolkien fan, but I have to say my favorite example of high key lighting is when Frodo wakes up in Rivendell, creating an almost heavenly, relaxed scene to contrast the intensity and danger of the Nazgul chase.

[neil]

For me, the best lighting tutorial so far! Thks!

[shishirsubba]

Thanks a lot. Screw film schools. You guys rock for sharing informative videos. 🤘🤘

[RomanoSoprano]

Blade Runner 2049 - Water Reflection Effect. The water was lit with 10K Fresnel lamps made as a huge ring light. That is the best ever practical effect. BTW @Atupute Does anyone ever won MW? Here is a cheap version of Deakins
effects: Large IKEA plastic container with broken mirrors on the bottom filled with water and one of your cool MW inside.

[rayt_visual]

As always great content. And love that I’m doing something right. :) when I light a scene I also start with seeing what practicals and available light is doing before adding lighting. :) great tips.

[CriticasDeCineEnMinutos]

This is super cool for small indie short films, a nice way to look more professional but keeping natural.

[kiribundi]

I think Blade Runner 2049 managed some high key lighting well throughout a few scenes despite its neo-noir genre. It was especially well done in the Police station office in which a motivated top bright light panel (4 by 8 perhaps) washed the room with a soft but contrasty light (reflections absorbed by the dark floor). This echoed the themes of transparency aimed for by the replicants since nothing was kept in the dark after the baseline test.

What I like about that scene is also how Deakins managed to include a part of the rainy city inside a window frame, despite the high key look. The water poured directly on the outside of the window gives it a whole new set of textures, further emphasized in the exterior point of view shot.

[BobbyDDacones]

I love your guys company, I just learned so much from this video, can’t wait for the next one =)

[dorfkind]

Hey, wanted to ask about the lantern and the mounting at 5:15 what tripod and weights did you use?

[ratt]

Great video, thank you! Why did you add what looked like orange gels to the hairlights?

[ccandraym]

In the film a star is born to compensate for the light that is projected from the window, and thus reduce the shadow that can appear on the actors' faces

[louisstudios]

You should do a video on lighting outdoors.

[bradleyatom]

I feel like Wes Anderson films are the best high key scenarios. All his films gives us that ditsy indie feel that he's become known for.