How To Light For Darkness!

Today we take a look at how to shoot a dark scene without getting a lot of noise or grain!

[@DavidKahlVFX]

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

[@johnrossi8862]

Life Eff

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@SandBoxSession]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@awesomejeremy1]

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

[@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!

[@boozarr]

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

[@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!

[@Beyondflix]

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

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

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

[@thebigpot843]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@joostvrolo]

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

[@GustavoBissoli]

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

[@CharlieCarterCreative]

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

[@ChichiMedz]

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

[@NxNiinja]

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

[@JeremyAbles01]

Really liked the bounced cardboard idea thanks for the episode!

[@HaiDHaiYena]

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

[@RealWorldDaily]

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

[@moviemanjoe9583]

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

[@MsElainetv]

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

[@chefkendranguyen]

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

[@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..

[@CJamesPhoto]

Loved this guys! great job 😃

[@1shadowfx]

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

[@Physicx17]

Funniest sponsor time ever haha! :D

[@ryanconnolly3668]

Thanks man!

[@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!

[@love4musicuk]

Great lighting tips. Thanks Ry! :)

[@LaneCarter]

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

[@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.

[@siewjiayi5159]

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

[@lucasgoldman1811]

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

[@hernandz1000]

What a wonderful video!!

[@BarackAchillah]

Damn, FilmRiot, you are my teacher for life

[@maverickanthonybutler7998]

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

[@jshaolin0]

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

[@luisgarcia152]

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

[@YoungTrauma]

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

[@shastarissjo]

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

[@101SmokeyJoe]

Great episode! We need more like this :D

[@Samcamilleri_1]

Helpful. I recently got some film lights, as i needed them cause i was having trouble shooting dark shots. I was using an f1.8 50mm lens, but with the lighting i'll be experimenting as suggested. Thanks.

[@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!

[@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!

[@diontaedaughtry974]

Thank you this was very helpful and informative 👍👍

[@AryanTandon]

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

[@MrNotThatFamous]

4:54 piercing into my soul!

[@richardv5942]

MAN, YOU SAVE ME WITH THIS EPISODE!!

[@Rile123Productions]

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

[@Kradukman]

Really good episode, very interesting :)

[@giusweep]

This was really helpful, thanks guys!

[@BixbyFilms]

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

[@lukemawson1027]

This video is hilarious. Seriously one of the best videos I have watched on KZbin ever! Taught me something I was really looking for, gave me a break so that the pace of the video wasn't too fast, which I really liked as I want to do something a bit slower paced than most youtube videos myself, kept me gripped, and really made me laugh. :D Bit of an essay comment... but again... Thanks. :D Subscribed and liked.

[@creativekamusu5413]

Great tutorial! Thanks

[@thebrandonkm]

Great episode!

[@rude.movedits2186]

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

[@c0pyimitati0n]

The eyes really pop on that cinema lens.

[@QEAdventures]

Awesome, thanks for the helpful vid.

[@annamaura89]

Emily! You are awesome!

[@knoptop]

Nice episode!

[@Palmstar125]

Great episode

[@-Mama]

Still one of my favorite Film Riot videos ever!

[@wakerliveproductions]

Good stuff as always

[@e11world]

Hey Ry, I've been wondering what's best to find the time to EDIT. I always do shooting here and there but never find the time to edit so any suggestions?

[@Zapdos2000]

I love the lighting episodes!!

[@danmcmahon11]

This was yet another extremely helpful episode. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these for free. And I thought the lens comparison was an awesome bit of the episode, really cool just to see the difference in quality vs. money. Also, were you using the Rode InvisiLav to record the audio or a boom?

[@EvilPanda1988]

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

[@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?

[@Ianfilmproductions]

Thank you for the tips

[@larrykellyiii1680]

wow, thank you so much for this video. it will really help me out! :D

[@Boneyardfilms2]

dont have twitter but the film was explores, I remember seeing it as a kid. it was good stuff, And thoank you for the lighting how to, its going to help out a lot

[@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?

[@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.

[@PeoplesProductions101]

hey ryan, need help. How do I show change of light? for example going in one shot from indoors to outdoors or from out doors to indoors. or showing that the lights go out in a scene.

[@goldminer0921]

Yo Ry. What is your opinion on using adapters to attach old lenses to newer cameras? (FD lenses to EOS body) Is that $20 price worth it?

[@MyronDavismd]

Great tutorial.

[@aayushagarwal4343]

Hi, film riot. Can u explain how faux darkness sequence is shot in Dont Breathe? I guess that doesn't involve any of the techniqes u explained here, or does it?

[@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.

[@Jdawwwwwg]

Thanks Ry Ry. I've been meaning to ask this question for a lonnnnnnnnnnnggggg time.

[@dinastiachowfan1401]

You're the master!

[@brianjosephmedia1086]

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

[@CosplayExtreme]

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

[@tarnafiti8212]

Very lit video mate

[@Gozyization]

Nice. Thanks guys.

[@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

[@ABNFilm]

What would you recommend for filming a wide angle wedding ceremony in bad lighting?

[@thepurplesmoke5289]

Super knowledge , thank you , feel more confident for my Film

[@Miss.6ixEdits]

That domain ad. Oh god I laughed so hard.

[@skurskyproductions]

Awesome video today, like usual. Question I have for you. Finally finished the amazing True Detective and after realizing that the end of episode 4 was a huge action scene with no cuts I wanted to know how you would light for that. The camera is going into all of these different rooms and locations also getting full view of everything and you never seem to know where the light is. Just practicals and an awesome camera or something more?

[@TheEmperor2029]

GREAT Thanks!!!!!!!! for this video!

[@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.

[@Prabhath_the_Dawn]

Thanks so much Ryan :-)

[@Ergoplato]

Loved Explorers as a kid!