How To Light For Darkness!

[@DavidKahlVFX]

That sentence "you don't show darkness - you show how you interpretate it" wisdom right there :)

[@johnrossi8862]

Life Eff

[@jeremywkrause]

Film riot is the best thing i have ever come across whilst scanning the interwebs. So much filmy goodness.

[@kid4eva94]

I swear advertising has never been so entertaining, love you guys, keep up the amazing videos :D

[@filmriot]

I'm hugging you in my mind... Is that weird?

[@kid4eva94]

Film Riot Well there's plenty of me to go around *hugs* ;D

[@TheBlackklantv]

Film Riot can u shot out a hug to me on an episode i need hug from one cinematographer to another , we all got to stick together , i love u guys

[@grandue23]

This episode was amazing, hilarious, and awesomely helpful! Thank you and I love you in a brotherly manner, Ryan!

[@EhItsDave]

I couldn't agree more :D

[@Anders_Lauritsen]

Some genuinely useful knowledge about lighting was showed into my eye sockets in this episode, thanks

[@filmriot]

So glad you dug it! Thanks for watching man.

[@cowboyzfrhell666]

[@mycosys]

+film riot probably the most important information on lighting production was completely skipped - because lighting is so complex and not many people have the necessary 3d spacial ability virtually every serious (whether pro or am) production engages a lighting designer VERY early in the production, ideally before storyboarding. If there is ANY way you (referring to others reading) can do this (are you part of the local amateur theatre company?) then do so, lighting design stuffs with most peoples heards and otherwise you will be wasting days moving lights haphazardly to get the effect you want, or getting nothing like what you had in your head.

[@SandBoxSession]

Great episode Film Riot Crew. I really liked the simplicity of the lighting and lens information. Simple and effective!

[@studiompodcastnetwork5119]

David Fincher and his cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth are the kings of low light film capture. From what I've gathered, they use a single source of light in the center of a room at around eye level and film their scenes with a very well lit set up, then go and darken the image in post production. Watch "The Social Network" or "Gone Girl" or even some episodes of "House of Cards" to get an idea of how low lit scenes should be done, awesome low lit scenes in these films/ show.

[@DGVFX]

Look at the Haunting of Hill house behind the scenes. The set is really bright and difused at the same time to achieve an ambience that does not pull your eyes to it, then they lower the exposure in post to make it just visible enough to have a sense of mystery while at the same time the keep noise to minimum cause everything was shot with plently of light. Amazing

[@TheChiChallenge]

when you put that break in the beginning, you got my subscription automatically... hilarious!!!! dope!!!!

[@DanielQuinteroG]

Thanks you so much, Ryan! Today I'm filming my first video with "budget". And the scene I'm shooting today will be in low light! You've save my short film from bad-amateur quality light. Thanks:-)

[@AAKFILMPRODUCTIONS]

RYAN THANKS FOR THE FILM KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU PUT IN MY BRIAN IN THIS EPISODE!

[@JustinKroger]

Thank you. I've been on a kick making horror shorts the passed few weeks and this is just like affirmation of what I've been doing and my thoughts on the process. Great episode!

[@MrNotThatFamous]

4:54 piercing into my soul!

[@JustJesseOfficial]

Oh my gosh thank you Ryan!!!!!!!! I've been wanting you to do this tutorial for so long. Others have videos but you actually describe how to do it and show really good examples. Love it dude, thanks for all of your help!

[@BarackAchillah]

Damn, FilmRiot, you are my teacher for life

[@MattBrownieCake]

I really love you're videos and grateful you take time out to make and share them. I loved the sponsor announcement this time round your reaction was priceless

[@boozarr]

That was great! I like the second method of shooting under lots of light and then re-lighting in post.

[@Physicx17]

Funniest sponsor time ever haha! :D

[@ryanconnolly3668]

Thanks man!

[@JamesGWall]

After watching that final part of you walking off, it made me curious to see what your studio space looks like, maybe do a tour? I'm guessing it's a spare room or a garage, but it'd still be interesting to see what you're working with.

[@HypeManReviews]

That is a green screen.And it can be probably anywhere.

[@JamesGWall]

Haha, I know that's a green screen, I just wondered if they had a little studio space. Thanks anyway.

[@ChrisMoEvans]

A Tiny Adventure Ya, I think it would be really cool to see their setup. Ryan calls it a studio, even if it isn't.

[@jasonmiller1420]

This information is very useful for me, as I've been wondering how to eliminate all that ugly grain. Thank you guys so much!

[@JeremyAbles01]

Really liked the bounced cardboard idea thanks for the episode!

[@knoptop]

Nice episode!

[@HaiDHaiYena]

Almost a Lion King moment there. "The first thing the light touches is your lens Simba"

[@GustavoBissoli]

I'm from Brazil and I love to watch your videos. They're awesome.

[@MattAlan01]

Haven't seen the episode yet, however I just wanted to say this is a GREAT topic! Totally different than lighting any other scene!

[@CZsWorld]

Can you show us a tutorial on turning a room dark in post? Film Riot

[@micahanakin8664]

Sorry to be so offtopic but does someone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb lost the password. I appreciate any help you can offer me.

[@bradleycharles9108]

@Micah Anakin instablaster =)

[@micahanakin8664]

@Bradley Charles Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@micahanakin8664]

@Bradley Charles it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@bradleycharles9108]

@Micah Anakin Glad I could help =)

[@wolverineaquajock2]

Just starting in Digital Cinema, and this was maddeningly obvious because I had a serious problem with lighting a dark scene. Wish I had thought about this beforehand!

[@psychocircus7002]

Anyone else go back and watch past episodes just because they are funny, and to brush up on some info? Still watching in 2018!

[@joostvrolo]

Awesome episode! I really liked the comparison and really saw the difference! Hurray!!!

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

Great tips! I shoot in the dark a lot, and now I have more idea's to work with. Thank ya.

[@CharlieCarterCreative]

You guys crack me up!.....keep these awesome tutorials coming!!!

[@Beyondflix]

Very cool episode. I loved the comparison between the lenses and would love to see more of those!

[@MsElainetv]

In love with the Jurassic Park Shirt, this video is awesome for learning!!!

[@LaneCarter]

I quite enjoyed the lens comparison. Very cool to see the difference.

[@thebigpot843]

very concise, enlightening... short and straight to the point. i love it, i will def subscribe.

[@chefkendranguyen]

lol Josh is a trip! Good one guys, I wondering about this too.

[@c0pyimitati0n]

The eyes really pop on that cinema lens.

[@jshaolin0]

Josh was hilarious in the sponsor time! haha gotta love FilmRiot! also great tips!

[@moviemanjoe9583]

Uber vids Ryan! Film Riot is a huge part of my learning, much appreciated.

[@rude.movedits2186]

You guys are the reason why I’m in film school

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

Josh's beard is kickin' like Chuck Norris!

[@richardv5942]

MAN, YOU SAVE ME WITH THIS EPISODE!!

[@1shadowfx]

You guys are awesome. I learn so much. Pilamaya!

[@BixbyFilms]

Finally catching up on your videos. That's cinema lens doe!

[@brianjosephmedia1086]

I actually was waiting for the video to end only to replay the sponsor time haha

[@love4musicuk]

Great lighting tips. Thanks Ry! :)

[@NxNiinja]

I have been waiting for this video for quite sometime, thank you for finally getting to it.

[@TheDubiousFilms]

Hey Film Riot DUDES, you said "stop down to a lower number" but stopping down is decreasing the aperture size (letting less light in) and "stopping open" is increasing the aperture size (MORE LIGHT BABEEYYY). Love the work. Just thought I'd help clear that up :).

[@jim-7965]

Nope

[@jim-7965]

You're wrong

[@danliscio]

Hahaha, good lord. That sponsor segment. I'm late to the party, but I salute you.

[@cyrusjameskhan]

Thanks a million for all your amazing tips over the years, they've really helped me figure out all the departments of movie making! thank you Film Riot, thank youu!

[@AryanTandon]

The tips really helped me out with my short film. After all cinematography requires the usage of trial and error method.

[@YoungTrauma]

Thanks! I really have trouble with dark movies, but I really like to make dark movies, this really helped me. Thanks!

[@lucasgoldman1811]

too funny! Lost it when Josh was yelling at you haha

[@TheRestlessView]

lens' are cool but if the 1000 and 200 dollar ones stack up well considering they cost less than a 10th of cinema zoom.

[@ViaticalTree]

Good tips, but a couple of correckshuns: stopping down a lens means to close down the aperture, not open it up. And moonlight is blue relative to interior tungsten light. So if your main light is tungsten and you have some moon light coming in a window it should/could look bluer.

[@DubzCo]

halffulltome Good corrections, but a correction for you, it’s ‘corrections’ not ‘correckshuns’

[@-Mama]

Still one of my favorite Film Riot videos ever!

[@thebrandonkm]

Great episode!

[@ZekeFaust]

Great episode, guys! For low light shooting, noise removal can also be a good option. I've gotten amazing results and been saved so many times with Neat Video's Denoiser plugin.

[@PatrickBlack173]

with the Cinema glass on the same settings you gain roughly a stop of light because it is a t-stop lens not an fstop lens. the difference is an fstop opens the aperture while the t-stop is a measure of light that passes through it

[@barrylenard790]

The clarity, contrast, and color temperature differences in those lenses is definitely profound. But there are other very important factors that will separate the lenses from each other, such as image distortion, vignetting, bokeh, and chromatic aberrations. If you have access to the lens again, would you pretty please test these areas as well? Because I'm poor and can't do it myself?

[@jensentung]

Great episode! Wish you guys had this episode before I filmed my action film a while back haha. Could have helped with the dark dialogue scenes. Thanks for the tips!

[@justinthatcher233]

Moon light is the same color temperature as daylight. It's sunlight bounced of the moon. It also has the same hard shadows as sunlight.

[@RealWorldDaily]

Thank you! I've been trying to find a good way to do this for a long time!! Yall rock!

[@CJamesPhoto]

Loved this guys! great job 😃

[@penguinYT1]

It may not have been scientific, but it was fascinating.

[@josephripoyla2980]

The layout and the theme at the beginning AND the way the guy talks remind me of VARIANT COMICS its pretty cool! its almost as if they have the same editor ... or maybe in the same studio

[@maverickanthonybutler7998]

Love Film Riot guys! u r doing a fantastic job on the show!

[@GTshortStories]

Great information. I know the 25K lens is better than the other lenses, but With that marginal difference between the L series, you would expect more. Just my thoughts

[@ArcadeDude44]

Cool, thanks so much for this...this is the exact info that I've been looking for!:). I shoot a LOT in darkness (arcades), now I'll try some indirect lighting and try to darken it even more, in post..

[@SeanCC]

Since moonlight is reflected sunlight, it is blue. If you were shooting a normal interior you'd likely be on a tungsten balance and using a daylight balanced light outside if it was supposed to be moonlight, which will still be blueish even without throwing a blue gel on it.

[@CodestarProductions]

what about outside at night? Because I hate how day for night looks, and I want to shoot some stuff outside at night for real

[@danmcmahon11]

I would try putting the light as high up and far away from the actor as you can with the space that you have outside. Or using significant diffusion. I've used both with some success for night shots. But I would like to see Ryan touch on this in an episode as well.

[@SeanCC]

Shooting with a tungsten white balance you can use a daylight balanced light backed off for a moon-motivated back light, if you're going for that look. How much fill you use is up to what sort of night you want to show. Some DPs only light based off motivated sources and you block your actors near these sources and let them be your guide for any additive lighting. Harris Savides, for instance. lit Michael Douglas with an overhead China Ball gel'd to mimic the tone of the street lamps in San Francisco for the night exteriors on THE GAME. Others float a big diffuse source and blanket daylight balanced ambiance over a night scene (DJANGO, ZERO DARK THIRTY).

[@luisgarcia152]

Great explanation video. I’m curious a good dimmable light you use. Mine are either on or off.

[@Curryicecream]

Laughing my ass off while learning! L.O.V.E this channel!!!

[@diontaedaughtry974]

Thank you this was very helpful and informative 👍👍

[@shastarissjo]

Very informative! This will help in my still shots too!

[@efe_aydal]

nice episode. Normally I don't watch you even the episode is interesting, because there are just too many disturbing ads.

[@fribi28]

no offense, but their ads make me even watch the vids that have no educational importance to me at the moment!!

[@love4musicuk]

You can always skip the ads ;)

[@harro333]

***** Do not skip the ad this episode. I fell off my chair laughing.

[@Ruffneck101]

With the amount of really useful information, it's a shame you'd not watch simply because of ads. It's how they financially support their show, we all need to support ourselves somehow. Do you also not watch TV because of the commercials? Not go to the movies because of the pre-shows? At least here, if you really want to you can skip the ads.

[@llleolllolll]

they gotta do it cause 60% of yall use addblock lol

[@hernandz1000]

What a wonderful video!!

[@MsSalamonchik]

good morning

[@ieatyoulol]

Morning.

[@driftozphotography]

good after noon

[@ethankoster4626]

good night

[@bwoogie]

GOOD DAY SIR!

[@PickellW]

Good morrow, goodly sire. How be you this fine day?

[@101SmokeyJoe]

Great episode! We need more like this :D

[@siewjiayi5159]

Hi Ry!!! Once again, thanks for the great tips!!!

[@warrenography]

very cool. I use a gopro 2, and went around my house one afternoon shooting in various locations around windows, then went into after effects and speedgrade to see what I could cook up. the best was in the kitchen, where a bit o' orange cloth gave a nice tint, then in speedgrade got a really nice dark look w/o graininess. Im in Tanzania where you can count on the same light every day (most of the time.). I should post the results.

[@ChaoticMatters]

It is pretty obvous but for the difference in price it's not that much different lol

[@brianjosephmedia1086]

Man this is so spooky in currently working on a Justin Timberlake mirror's cover and I came to watch this video as a quick break from premiere and Emily is singing the song 😂

[@BadMouse101]

The c300 is fantastic for ISO, it can reach up to 20000 and can still create a great look image because the noise looks more like film grain.

[@Zapdos2000]

I love the lighting episodes!!

[@brosbrotherandme2766]

I love it when josh goes mental behind camera 😂

[@TonyC0101]

EXCELLENT video! Coming from a photography standpoint, I'm always looking for creative ways to use constant lighting because its effects are immediately apparent, versatile, and getting more affordable by the day. Any particular LED light panels you recommend?

[@NihilQuest]

The lens test was anything but silly. Sure there is a difference but these are just different looks, I would not say any of the cheaper ones look like crap even though they're bit softer. Oh, and thanks for the lighting tips, very good.

[@CosplayExtreme]

Thanks for the lighting tips. I be using that shortly mister Explorer.

[@Miss.6ixEdits]

That domain ad. Oh god I laughed so hard.

[@Ergoplato]

Loved Explorers as a kid!

[@deeamerson]

The answer to the movie trivia is "Explorers"... I luv that movie

[@barrymoton1]

Wow this was so informative. Do you guys have any suggestions for filming a scene using UV Blacklights?

[@dannymarko9925]

no

[@AtomicAgePictures]

Moon light IS blue relative to tungsten light, which is typically what you have to compare it too at night.

[@JayPeeFilmKritik]

I thought the Helios and the L-Series had this old movie kind of look. Cant quite describe it, but it´s there.

[@termvegas]

you answered every question I was looking for,,,,,i was shooting dark with f1.8 ,,iso 100 still getting noise,,,just need some indirect lighting, thanx

[@matty9460]

I just shot a short scene with my friends (I'm just starting out) and the lighting isn't what I wanted in my head, I've deduced that it was due to the lack of shaping the light with various tools to block, bounce and mould so I'll keep that in mind next time

[@Palmstar125]

Great episode

[@Rile123Productions]

Oh my god just what I've been waiting for!!!

[@Kradukman]

Really good episode, very interesting :)

[@EvilPanda1988]

haha I love you guys! Awesome part with Emily too lol