Lighting for Cinematography

An updated version of the how-to book on the art, craft, and practice of lighting for film and video for students and filmmakers that want to improve their lighting.



We can't shoot good pictures without good lighting, no matter how good the newest cameras are. Shooting under available light gives exposure, but lacks depth, contrast, contour, atmosphere, and often separation. The story could be the greatest in the world, but if the lighting is poor, viewers will assume it's amateurish and not take it seriously. Good lighting makes things look real, while real lighting often makes things look fake.



This book helps the reader create lighting that supports the emotional moment of the scene, contributes to the atmosphere of the story and can augment an artistic style. Well-crafted lighting helps establish the illusion of reality that is necessary for the viewer to forget they are watching a screen and get lost in the story. So, no matter how good a script, how good a director, how good the actors – the lighting needs to be as good, if not better.



This book is a practical hands-on lighting text for anyone who wants to learn to improve their lighting for video or film, based on the college lighting class that the author has taught for ten years, as well as his extensive professional work in the industry as a DP, Lighting Director, and union gaffer.