Lighting

1) Still image analysis

Look at the still images on slides 33-37 of the Film Language Powerpoint linked above. Copy the images into your blog and answer the following questions for each image:

1. Identify examples of high and low-key lighting.
2. Say which depict top, back or under lighting.
3. What effects are created by the lighting in each image?     

-lowkey
-side

-mysterious, cloaks face in shadow, femme fatale 

-lowkey
-top
-glamorous, highlights makeup, also creates lots of shadow, evil?



-highkey
-key, back
-Bright, exposed lighting around figure, face has shadow, evil intentions?

-lowkey
-side and back
-dangerous, lighting highlights key aspects of costume (badge, gun), highlights rain, ominous atmosphere, mysterious man, duplicitous?

-highkey
-side and back
-bright lighting to make her look exposed and strong shadow to add drama to the scene, highlights expression of horror

-lowkey

-side 

-secretive, striped light like from a film noir

-lowkey
-backlight
-strong silhouettes, highlight body language and posture, violent, unwelcoming. Someone on floor?

-lowkey
-side
-highlights face, look of distaste, strong shadows, secrecy?

-highkey
-top
-Symbolises a kind of god? Strong shadows connote sin?

-lowkey
-side
-vast majority is black, tense atmosphere, figure with side light, power, mysterious

-highkey

-side and front
-highlights face of man, woman's profile and the gun the man is holding. Very film noir.

2) Film noir research 

Research film noir - focusing on the genre’s distinctive lighting style. Make notes on the genre and particularly the use of lighting - bullet points are fine. 

-direct front and side writing 

-silhouettes 

-striped light from blinds

-strong aesthetic white and black contrast

3) Film noir YouTube clip analysis 

Finally, find a YouTube clip that fits the film noir genre and embed it under your research (the clip can be classic noir from the 1950s or something more recent - neo-noir). How does the clip's lighting fit the film noir genre?

The clip's lighting fits with the film noir genre as the characters' faces are cloaked in shadow by their hats and the overall atmosphere is dark and mysterious. Their shadows are dispersed by thick fog covering the set.