LIGHTS IN VISUAL BROADCASTING:Light Temperature, Light and Distance

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 30

LIGHTS IN VISUAL BROADCASTING

As we move from audio/ verbal communication, or broadcasting to non verbal or visual

broadcasting, the first thing that we encounter is the presence of light which enables a viewer

to see the objects which are part of the whole visual communication.

All visual broadcasting is also termed as a synonym to photography for it is a camera which is

the major tool to bring you this broadcast. And photography is defined as a process of taking

images on a sensitized surface with the help of light.

In this lesson we shall see a broad application of lighting arrangement at a studio which helps

in taking images and the general view on availability of light in the outdoor broadcasts.

The lights explain about the perspective, mode and textures etc.

The Nature of Light

Light is a form of energy. It is this property of light which enables it to be converted from its

natural form into other forms of energies and the electrical impulse. Likewise electrical energy

could also be converted into light as we experience this more often in our daily life.

A ray of sunlight, which seems white, is actually a composition of all shades of light blended

into one shade. The scientists have been able to split up the sunlight into hundreds and

thousands of sub colors, called primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Broadly red, green and

blue (RGB) are the colors which mixed to form all other colors.

Unlike the sound waves, light waves travel straight. This property immensely helps in forming

shadows, or to students of broadcasting, making visual communication possible.

Light Temperature

In another way we can also read shades of light by its temperature. In this case temperature is

used not a measurement of heat but a degree of lights on the spectrum where we distinguish

one shade from another. The orange tinge of light is read at 3200 Kelvin and the blue at 5600

Kelvin, The orange light is supposed to be the best in reading the color of human skin. It is

common practice to shoot outdoor when sun is ascending or descending simply because at

these times of the day, orange-tinge of light is amply available to get true colors of the objects.

These days different lights have made it possible to take a true image of an object under

different lighting arrangements.

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

Lights at Studio

Basically you need three lights to make a bare minimum broadcast possible from a studio.

Key light

- main source of light

Fill light

- beats the shadows

Back light

- separates objects from walls behind

The three lights arrangement is only done to make student of TV broadcast a minimum

lighting set up. Practically speaking, there are always more than three lights. And in programs

where more than one person is appearing, which is a case on most occasions these days, you

always need more lights.

There may be more lights

Background light

- to lit the background

Bounce light

- to give even light

Reflect light

- usually in outdoor used as fill light

Hard light

- for harsh impressions

Soft light

- to express peace, normal life

Natural light

- sunlight / outdoor

Artificial light-

- man-made lights

Flood light

- to soften the impressions, control shadows

Measuring Light

Measuring light is very essential because measuring it by human eye and the camera are two

different parameters. The amount of light at a particular part of the set is measured in ftcs

foot-candles. One ftc is defined as the amount of light falling at a distance of one foot from a

standard candle.

The light intensity and the lit area are controlled through the barn doors fixed on the body of

the lighting instruments. These doors cut the light from falling on areas where light is not

desired not only that it is causing shadows but also that amount of light should not exceed

certain limits at a given point on the sets.

Light and Distance

No complex physics is intended here, the formula between the amount of light and the

distance between the light source and the object is pretty simple. The occurrence of light is

reduced by the square of the distance changed. For instance distance is doubled, the amount

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

of light would reduce four times. Distance is increased by four times the amount of light would

fall by sixteen times.

Cookies and Gel

Sometimes we need to change the shade of light. The easiest way is the use of filters, also

called gel. It is in the form of paper- called as gel paper, and put in front of the source light and

the whole set, or the part there off, is put under a different shade of light. These days plastic

filters of better quality are available to get the same results.

Cookies (cucalorus) are the holes or cuts made in a pattern on a sheet of card, metal or wood

and placed in front of a light to create a particular scene behind an object/ person like illusion

of window, tree-shades etc.

Grids and floor stands to mount lights

In a studio the lights are usually mounted on a grid fixed with the ceiling and are easy to shift

and angle them to get the desired results. But at times lights are also mounted on floor stands

to take lights where grid lights are not reaching. Floor lights are usually avoided for the wires

should not wrap in the feet of the working crew. A change in lighting arrangement even by

accident would make the director furious for it may take long time to readjust the lights. But

lights have to be in order before the start of shooting and all the production team, and the

anchorperson as well, should be very well aware of the positioning of lights and as such

he/she should not move in areas of the set where there is a lighting problem. Only then a

quality production is ensured. Some time camera finds shadows on the neck of the talent. If

the shadow is hard it must be countered by placing a light of less intensity at a low angle.

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