how to create natural ‘cinematic’ lighting

[@markbone]

big shout out to Joey Dunn for the color pass on this one! joeydunn.com

[@barrygormley]

Man I'd love to see a tutorial from him. Lovely work by you both.

[@michaellitty8718]

Hearing your thought process is wonderfully educational, not just "do this" but, "here's what I started with, here's what didn't work and why, and here're the reasons we changed and why I prefer this result." It's great . Thanks.

[@brysimm404]

With the frame left window in the background, your final set up is best for natural looking, motivated lighting. You got it 👍 As a 25 year video pro, I look at what a space is naturally doing for me, then augment accordingly for what the camera "needs" to make the set up work.

[@TyroneLT]

The double diffusion has been my go-to for setups like this! Such an easy way to get extra soft lighting for simple setups.

[@markbone]

💯

[@QuinnAden]

Tyrone what specific light have you been using for your key?

[@TyroneLT]

@@QuinnAden Aputure 300D Mark II or 600D.

[@maxbressan]

Thank you for posting this. What a great way to use the lighting with purpose and not just slapping lights together with no end goal. Thank youThank you!!!!

[@markbone]

Thanks Max!

[@nelsonpuello8722]

Fantastic and informative breakdown. Your journey shows that you are open to learning and this in turn makes what you share compelling. Thank you.

[@JoeCopenhaver]

Absolute masterclass for free. Thank you!! I loved seeing your progression and the realization that you needed to flip your key.

[@alexcortez8909]

I'm a photographer and I'm finally realizing that the key to 'naturally-lit' scenes is that they're NOT naturally lit at all. Everything from the window light to the main subject light is actually strobed. Thanks for sharing these tips Mark!

[@isaactalbert]

True stand out lighting for an interview! Way better then what I see in most netflix docs.

[@Pfagnan]

The MASTER at work! So organic - Thanks Mark!!

[@1MarcVD]

Very well lit. And very professional to make test set-ups before hitting the road.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Pricelessness. Thank you Mark.

[@markbone]

You’re so welcome!

[@ckhicks]

This is a mini-masterclass, bravo! Thanks for explaining everything so clearly.

[@QaanithMasoodi]

YOU EARNED A FAN BY MAKING THIS VIDEO , KEEP MAKING MORE STUFF.

[@orelbitan]

I really enjoy your videos, you are down to earth, no games and no show off. Thank you!

[@markbone]

I appreciate that!

[@ChevitosJourney]

Man! Your footage are so PRO all the time! Thank You for sharing.

[@JedDobre]

I’ve just picked up a 120c & 60cl. I really like them! The 60CL is my go to hair light now!

[@IanSnape]

Best lights for light quality and speed

[@personallycatholic]

Appreciate all you do and share. Thank you, Mark!

[@Cove_Media]

Very valuable video. I loved the idea of using the huge diffuser and moving the subject instead of the light to nail down lighting.

[@markbone]

Cheers mate

[@mrosilvR7]

Love the tree diffusion!

[@HeathClark]

Nice! Never would’ve thought about the vertical and horizontal tube lights…great tip! Thanks Mark!

[@scottvillalobos8453]

Love what your doing here, I've used the light by light process for my photography for years. I don't know if you've ever been a photographer, but lighting one light at a time really tells the tale. Love what your saying about moving the person opposed to moving the light and how that changes the mood of the story. One thing I notice at 10:36 is that you've got some strong light in the background from the door to between her shoulder and the stairs. I know your hair light was there, but it seems that a kicker light would fit the available lighting coming through the door. Just a thought. Anyways, love regardless. Looking forward to see the Netflix documentary.

[@AesirViking]

It's great you actually showcased the result with the wrong light motivation, I remember that pre-AOD I really struggled a lot to understand the concept, while seeing it compared side-by-side like this makes it instantly much clearer! PS: I'm a fan of your guest gaffer, Frankie! 😍

[@TJUC123]

Frankie was putting in that WORK!

[@franck8448]

Thank you so much Mark for this masterclass 🙏 ! There are a ton of tips in this video 🙌🔥 !

[@rickmera7]

SO Nice sensei !!!! cool.I learn more with Mark than I did in film school.

[@itsjoetorres930]

I love the usage of the bounce vs like showing a scrim. I think this really helps people on how to double diffuse light on a budget. Especially with maybe starting off with the pavoslim 60. Thanks for such an amazing video, perfectly timed as I shoot weddings and I have couple asking for interview styles this weekend and I wanted something portable compact and a full setup on the fly.

[@robinprobyn1971]

Where is the bounce light ? the pop out is a diffusion , with the light going through it .. or have I missed something.

[@ericdargan]

Best lighting I've seen you do! Great job

[@kenilev_photographer]

best way to implement motivated lighting - I like this video

[@wojciechkaminski4025]

Great job, much appreciated! One of the best tutorials I have ever seen. Did you use any mist diffusion filter on the lens?

[@BenMunro-gw7br]

Fantastic tips!! Loved every second of this!

[@markbone]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@jonaspries6368]

This video is perfect for me. Have a shot this weekend and ordered the Nanlite120b II. Thanks for sharing!!

[@Max160200]

Thanks for this instructive video. I like this natural rendering.

[@marcdevinci893]

I hear what you say about motivating the light but I much prefer the key light on the right side. Felt more balanced with the background with a checker board lighting effect.

[@ImaginetMedia]

This could easily be added to the Cinematic Eye as a lesson. Excellent info.

[@careenaalexisfilms]

I just really fricken love your videos and how you explain everything. You're awesome Mark, thank you for these extremely valuable videos.

[@markbone]

Appreciate it! Glad they help :)

[@YourStoryStudios]

Lots of great tips! It's given me a few things to consider for my next interview shoot. I'll try out using a 5-1 reflector for diffusion to get a bigger source. Thanks!

[@screammachineman]

I love this energy.

[@Kaotix_music]

Moving the key light was MILESSS better than the first set up. Much softer look too on top of the placement just making more sense

[@RReMMuSS]

as usual! really good content! thank you!

[@markbone]

Much appreciated!

[@vitando]

Thank you for sharing this, Mark! Brilliant as always 👏

[@markbone]

My pleasure!

[@ttracemusic]

Dude. Your lighting for when you talk is awesome,

[@markbone]

Thanks! Just one big soft box really close

[@CAMphotography_]

Mannnn. I was trying to figure out why one of my tube lights was overpowering the other. One is vertical and the other horizontal! Great tip!

[@markbone]

It’s a tip a gaffer once told me

[@yuriajones]

As usual, great content Mark. I always learn from these types of videos.

[@YCImaging]

Setup looked so good!

[@markbone]

Thank you!!🫡

[@TheMiggs89]

Yeah I like the key on camera left for sure. It also looked like the light outside of the window was a touch brighter too which helped to accomplish that natural look.

[@markbone]

Simple hey? Light comes from windows

[@TheMiggs89]

@@markbone once you talked through your process it made a lot of sense. I’ve never paid that much attention to the details but it made so much sense. Most of my shoots are for my church but this was an eye opener. Amazing work!

[@S0HJIN]

Brilliant breakdown

[@drmatthewhorkey]

This was GREAT!!! The talent must have been patient.

[@daprincehwc]

Wouldn't have thought of the lighting position , haven seenthe two the difference is day and night , learn something today, will always be conscious of that. thank you.

[@AndileMasikane]

Thank you for sharing the process!

[@markbone]

You are so welcome!

[@niceshortfilms6856]

Well done buddy!. Do you use pro mist filter for that shot?

[@SPORKvideos]

Curious too. Definitely some form of diffusion. Doesn't have the strong bloom around the lights but more of an overall haze. Might have been a smoque filter.

[@niceshortfilms6856]

@@SPORKvideos Thank you

[@MtZionMediaPro]

Great breakdown!! 🙌🏾

[@kyestone688]

Made the right choice to put on ther left side along windows. Beautiful shot.

[@markbone]

🫡

[@flochfitness]

Love this!

[@BRNDNSLVRA]

Yeah this lighting setup is perfect

[@markbone]

🤌

[@Snider-Films]

Definitely the right call to flip the key. And I agree that double diff is the way to go for key light. For a hair light, I’ll be traveling with the Pavotube 15X 2-ft version. I’d like to have the extra width, but they travel better. Interesting that you didn’t have a crate on it for spill into the camera. Ever needed it? And it gives me the warm fuzzies that you’re shooting with Sigma’s. Love the 28-45 f1.8. Thank you, Mark!

[@racqelmusic]

Thank you for all this information!!

[@EugenioTrainer]

Awesome video and tips; you are amazing. Instead of checking the CRI or CRI extended, I think SSI is better to look at for LED lights. And if you can afford a spectrometer like the Sekonic to be sure that you have the best and most accurate quality, that will be awesome; just saying

[@littletheatrefilms5825]

Definitely gonna try this. Did you use any diffusion on the lens or was it just haze? Loved that look

[@VulcanworxSG]

Looks great! That 120C is more punchy than I thought!

[@swapnil.j.upadhyay3401]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@IanSnape]

Greta video mark and the 5 in 1 reflectors and hugely underrated for easily packable kit on shoots especially doc work. Would love you to overlay a false colour on your shots so we can see the ratios you are getting on these setup looks. Cheers dude

[@brittacurkovic]

Love my Nanlux 1200B

[@PeterDiBussolo]

looked like you added fog in the room. I feel like this adds more of cinematic look aswell. Not sure if I missed it in the video where you mentioned that but its a good way to get that "Cinematic" look

[@rychusandbonita]

Great content and thanks again for always sharing. The second kne looked more natural but personally I think the original location looks better mostly because of the overall contrast of the image and how the light and dark and broken up in different sections. They both look good but I prefer the 1st shot.

[@3Lmatador]

Learning a lot here!

[@pho977]

This is amazing!!!

[@filipe_aires]

amazing video dude

[@Jossy.mp4]

love the result! dubs to the behind the shooter lol

[@andycrespo8343]

Mark, I'm going to go against the common flow of lighting, and say I like the key light on her left opposite the window @7:42. She really pops in this shot, her beauty, soft skin, clear eyes are so visible and radiant! This feels more important to me than conventional lighting techniques.

[@markbone]

Lighting is a personal taste! That’s the best part about it, everyone perceives it differently. Trust your instinct

[@Original_Old_Farmer]

I like your idea about hair lights. What do you do if the person is bald? Good video!

[@markbone]

No hair no light or just super super soft

[@BrandonLuckain]

WIsh I saw this 2 days ago! Was just filming some family members for a documentary as well. Sometimes we just need that confirmation as well. This looks so good. Now I gotta find a use for my old reflectors since I gotta get this big one now...

[@abdelrahmanibrahim628]

Great work Mark ! love the video , can you tell me what's the app that you are using ?

[@domesdayfilms3165]

Looks fantastic. Did you use any haze or smoke in the background?

[@Felixpennell]

Mark what camera/lens combo do you use for your own talking head clips? - amazing vid btw

[@BUSBYPRODUCTION]

Dude, you’re out here doing the Lords work, no cap🙏🔥 thanks Mark!!

[@kendrickgarcia8556]

I would like to start making cinematic videos even short vids but the lighting is the only problem. I think i found the spark ending my midlife crisis 😅

[@leveluptrainingtv6024]

Absolutely amazing! Quick question: Can you maybe drop us a link to a short ungdraded log clip (original file) from the interview for us to practice grading on? Thanks for being a champion!

[@ryanwhite4855]

Thanks for another great interview setup! What are those black and blue ball heads you're using between the lights and the stand/extension arm?

[@JonnyRay82]

Very valuable info. Thank you.

[@markbone]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jochenretter]

looks awesome!

[@KyleWhiteTV]

This is awesome bro! How do you get those random in between clips in the edit where it cuts to random shots to make your point LOL

[@stevenkralovec]

At 1:28 How did you clamp the tall diffusion filter (in front of the light) to the c stand arm? All I see is a clamp but can’t understand how it would stay put 🤔

[@josephmedina0319]

Hi Mark! Love how you color grade your footages. I'm planning to buy your luts. Does it require rec 709 conversion before applying it?

[@RonLopez19]

Very useful tips, Mark! What's the lens filter you used on this? Love the "cinematic" hazy feels it brings

[@markbone]

A polar pro regular mist

[@d.edwardsfreelanceeditorvi4212]

Man I like those nanlite pavoslim. If I wasn’t invested in aputure I would grab these

[@PiecesofVinyl]

WOW - @7:51 is the KEY (no pun intended) part of this video! When I first clicked on the video - my first questions were - how did they control the light coming in the window for the entire interview AND how did that window light - light her so naturally AND if they were using the window light - how did they control that? was this a short interview or something? Turns out - it's all fake - and it looks AMAZING. This was a fantastic video.

[@markbone]

Bahaha. “Turns out it’s all fake.” Movies right?

[@brodie_hart_filmmaker]

@markbone so helpful my guy. Always appreciate your attention to detail. Random question about the Sigma 28-45…you see any meaningful advantage to a slightly faster prime f1.4 over the 28-45’s f1.8?

[@markbone]

I think 1.8 is fine. 1.4 or 1.2 is only ever needed if you really need to vanquish a background into a blurry nothingness

[@markbone]

Forgive me for the use of cinematic in my title

[@franzguentner]

at least it did not „change everything“

[@yeetbra9485]

Gotta appease the algorithm gods, is what it is.

[@BlakeCortright]

Unforgivable :P

[@SwaraajGhosh]

Forgiven 😄

[@donned6326]

I'll fogive you😂

[@johnnysimes5082]

I admire your craft and your skill in teaching. As a still photographer, I feel that your subject is so dark in some examples that the visual message is that the background is more important than the subject. My eye keeps going to the background windows and spends less time on the subject. I'm not sure that that was your intent, but I don't know the purpose of the interview. I definitely like the brighter lighting examples. The short lighting (left key) makes her seem thinner or possibly mysterious. The broad lighting makes her a bit heavier or with more gravity or presence or more relatable. I don't know the exact feel of the interview, so it's hard to prefer one or the other. The key positions just tell a different story. Both positions seem "natural enough" and the lighting is really smooth and organic. Really well done and thanks for walking through it. Great teaching.

[@markbone]

Thanks Johnny! Appreciate your insights I left the window brighter and didn’t bring it down in the grade as it felt a bit more true to life

[@chromiqa]

thanks for the video, do you have any videos on how to shoot in slog and color grade it?

[@KevinOtterness]

Hi Mark! Do you have a link to the Diffusion Filter w/ the 5 in 1 Light Reflector? Looks beautiful!

[@markbone]

amzn.to/4dd1sHM

[@DKiaulakis]

Awesome 🎉

[@pierrecabouret]

Great tuto ! how many cameras did you use during this interview ? and you use only your shotgun mic for the sound ? thanks

[@firemanmediagroup568]

Wonderful

[@nicholasboule5134]

Tripod wide of final looks great but the handheld shot the key looked overcooked and more contrasty? Were they different cameras or maybe different ND. The 2nd angle looks lit vs the wide looks natural

[@wildwestadventures3583]

Second question: Have you ever tested a fast lens at say f1.2 stopped down to say f4 looks any better than a dedicated f4 lens at f4? For instance I wonder if the Canon EF f2.8 24-70mm at f4 would look any better than the Canon f4 240-70mm at f4. I wonder about this because people often film at f4 for better sharpness so it seems good logic just to buy a f4 lens as they are much cheaper than a f2.8 or especially faster lenses.

[@royfiction6852]

Hey Mark, really love your videos and learned a lot from you. Can you make a video on colour grading documentaries or how to make footages shot in natural light look more Cinematic? - Roy! 🙋‍♂️

[@DollyRanch]

CRI = Colour Reproduction Index, it's not about tint, it's about how faithfully it emits the full visible spectrum afaik. Most non-film leds lack large chunks of the spectrum so reds and greens look wrong despite the light appearing "white"

[@javzedit]

Great video! Very helpful. Did you use haze in this shot at all?

[@markbone]

We added a little at one point but not for the whole thing