Direct & Diffused Lighting – Why Should You Care?

Here is an example of something that you will probably never think about, but will play an important role in your video - lighting. 
   
We’ll break this down simply without getting into too much jargon and technical stuff.  Light concerns us in video production because it can make the speaker look great or...not so great.  The aim here is to accentuate the good stuff and de-emphasize the bad. 

Think of taking a picture at noon when the sun is highest in the sky.  The light is harsh and you are squinting because it’s so bright.  In the late evening, the brightness has toned down and a soft glow has settled on your subject.  Colors are richer and soft shadows bring life to your images and video.  In general, big light sources are great and while the sun is a beautiful light source, we have no control over it.  Studio lighting can be manipulated to perfect your video.

Two Types of Light and Why You Should Care
There are two types of light that we deal with to make this happen, direct and diffused.  When a light leaves its source and travels in a straight line to its subject, the light is direct.  When light hits something else and is reflected to its subject, the light is diffused.  Direct light is harsh, like the sun in the middle of the day.  Diffused light is soft, like the sun in the early morning or late evening.  Soft sounds better than harsh, right?  Well, it looks better too. 

You have surely seen photographers and cameramen with umbrellas on stands.  Ever wonder what those are for?  They reflect harsh light, spreading it out so that it falls softly upon your spokesperson.  Using this and a few other tricks, we can place shadows properly so that you will have a full and three-dimensional look without sacrificing color or your comfort while on camera. 

Don't Have Enough Time?
Lighting can be a complicated piece of your video production and is one of the main reasons that hiring the Gearshift is a better use of your time and money than attempting to do it yourself.  You can trust that our knowledgeable staff and state of the art equipment will make the difference when it comes to lighting - and you will hopefully never think about it.