You’ve probably heard various terms to describe lighting in film. Practical, motivated, and ambient, to name a few. However, each plays an important role in building a believable world within the camera frame.

One director worth mentioning is Rodger Deakins. He’s a big advocate for practicals. As seen in Blade Runner 2049, most scenes are flooded with cityscapes, street neons, headlights, explosions, and vivid holograms. The colorful arrays are plentiful and immersive.

In the art-house film Neon Demon, you can see how practicals are used to create depth in the casting Scene. Tube LED lights were used in many ways in the frame throughout the film.

In addition, watch your favorite films and replicate their styles until you discover your own. The more you practice with practicals, the faster you’ll become a skilled effective cinematographer.

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Practical lightingin film examples

In the 2010 movie Buried Ryan Reynolds was lit for the entire scene with a just lighter and a phone. It shows how you can create a sense of tension and claustrophobia using effective practical lighting.

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Practicallight

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This exercise helps you identify the natural path of light. In addition, collecting references can help guide your creative decisions until you establish a look of your own. Here are a few quick examples.

In the opening scene of Drive, practicals can be seen almost everywhere. First, you see a table lamp highlighting a complex driving plan. Next, you see the scorpion jacket glowing from the floor lamp.

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Practicallight bulb

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They are dimmable, RGB, and battery-powered. All of which can be adjusted from behind the camera monitor. Nowadays, it’s something every filmmaker should have in their kit.

Learning these essentials puts you on the fast track to become a better cinematographer. Sharpening your attention to detail will change the way you see a scene.

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To understand practical lighting further, take some time to review a few of your favorite films. Freeze frame scenes and pick out the practicals.

The first step starts with practical lights, also known as practicals. In this article, we’re going to cover what practical lighting is, why it’s used, where you’ve seen it, and how to do it yourself.

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Other lighting terms that go hand in hand include motivated and ambient. It’s helpful to understand the differences before diving in.

Stanley Kubrick is well known for using practical lighting in film. In this Eye’s Wide Shut Trailer, notice that the majority of scenes are covered with them.

Another example with frequent uses of practicals is A Star is Born. Stage lighting appears clearly in the frame in many scenes. Another practical used includes camera flashes from the paparazzi.

Use practicals as key lights, to spark visual interest, and to provide depth and separation. Right away, your scenes will be more believable and dynamic.

Simply put, a practical is a light source appearing anywhere in the frame of your shot. It can be a key light for your subject while also being a part of your set. For example:

This gives the viewer insight into the nature of the main character. Visual details are embedded in this movie. It’s definitely worth a deeper look.

Practical lightingvs motivatedlighting

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Filmlighting

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On a side note, try to avoid lighting anything in your scene that looks artificial. This can spark unwanted questioning of the story.

However, there’s a great solution to this issue, they’re called Apputure Accent B7c bulbs. The E26/27 lamp socket screw connector makes it compatible with a wide variety of household lamp fixtures.

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Finally, when motivating light, always remember to match the color temperature and quality of the light, whether it’s hard or soft.

Additionally, using string lights as practicals in the background is an effective tool. With a narrow depth of field, create a stunning bokeh effect. This is a cheap and easy way to elevate production value.

A budget-friendly way to highlight a wall-mounted fixture or a cabinet underbelly is to gaffer tape a phone with its flashlight on.

Important to note, the eyes usually go to the brightest part of the frame. You want practicals to support the story but not overwhelm the scene. Avoid competing or clashing light sources.

In short, to create a sense of realism. A scene is more realistic when a light source has a reason to be there. The main goal is to draw the viewer in without realizing it. In turn, they see themselves as the character participating in the story.

Practical lightingexamples

First off, ask yourself a few simple questions. Is the light naturally positioned? Where is it directing attention and what is it trying to tell the viewer?

Here’s an example from the Social Network’s club scene. Notice the practical lit from the bottom side of the table between the two characters. Its color strobes are naturally appropriate for the environment.

In the end, practical lights are used to create motivated light. Taking this step can upgrade the scene to a polished cinematic look.

Please note, cheaper practicals can have a very strong color cast. In addition, they can be higher intensity from a fixed output. In turn, overexposing areas of the shot.