How Can Fill Light Help A Dark Scene Look Cinematic? (On Any Camera)

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Filling in shadows is important on any camera, regardless of how dark you intend your scene to be. One aspect of a "cinematic" look is control of your highlights and shadows, in such a way to have detail in both - fill light can help you with this, especially on a camera with limited dynamic range. But it can also give you a richer, more detailed image on a more capable camera system too. In the video, we take a look at utilizing fill light for a darker, higher contrast scene, on an older Nikon D800 DSLR. This doesn't mean you have to use fill light for everything though - depending on how you want your image to look, letting your shadows fall into pure black can be very effective for the intended look and feel of a scene. As with any filmmaking technique, this is just one way to achieve a look and feel in your work - there are endless ways to paint with light, create mood and experiment with image making!
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Cameras:
Nikon D800
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 2.5K
Lenses:
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 ART
Metabones Nikon G - BMCC Speedbooster
#filmmaking #lighting #cinematic

[@RavikantRai21490]

You're teaching me lighting like no one else on KZbin. Amazing content.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Super happy to hear that, thank you so much! :)

[@adrianfels2985]

Yeah, same here! It's amazing!

[@JulianBati]

@@RobEllisCinematographer the same here too, you have given me a lot. In this video you get a similar quality to Deakins' "Cove light", only with two sources from above instead of the bounces Roger uses. It is a great contribution, thank you very very much!!!

[@richardmorschel6266]

You are the Rembrandt of modern lighting!!

[@Redemption149]

Your channel is really a hidden gem

[@carolmarianunez]

your videos are so peaceful and informative. king

[@walkmotopov]

It feels like a masterclass tutorial. Thank you

[@leo_metal7751]

Perfect learning. Especially when you are absolutely not in the subject, but want to understand. Thank you!!!

[@summers1604]

this whole channel is going to change my entire world and i already feel like my first attempt at a self shot cinematic scene will come out way better than a typical first attempt i am so excited to shoot a quick scene with these techniques please keep posting videos you are truly a gift to the art space!

[@RizGhumro]

Your videos have been so educational and the best part is you actually don't break the bank in your lighting tutorials.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :D I try to keep things a little more realistic to the everyday person interested in lighting as we all know this stuff can get expensive. And what better way to learn than with what you have/can afford! On the flip side, I am currently putting together some videos on why you should invest in more expensive gear if you can - there's always two sides of the coin! :)

[@diegoatlas]

I really love this videos. Im so glad i found your channel.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! I appreciate it :)

[@lenavoyles526]

Awesome. This discussion of lighting relative to dynamic range is exactly what I didn’t even realize I needed.

[@RonaldReidJr]

This gotta be the best KZbin channel for cinematography it’s simple to the point and its QUALITY. Love the details you put into these videos.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much, glad to hear it! And thank you for watching them! :)

[@CraigToddOfficial]

Fantastic Training, easy to follow and appreciated. Thanks Rob.

[@saviwaves5337]

i just learned more in 5 minutes than i've learned in 5 hours worth of tutorials. now i just need to buy these specific things.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Haha thank you! That means a lot! :)

[@jagbirsingh5791]

This video was great because you explained the thought process right from the very beginning. Opening the curtains then closing them partially to closing them fully etc.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! I try to include as many relevant details as possible as you don't generally just walk into a set/location and immediately know what you're doing with the lighting! So I'm glad that's making it more useful! :)

[@PaulMatthewMedia]

This channel is highly underrated. These videos do such a great job breaking down these setups and more importantly the thought process that goes into these decisions. Very insightful and inspiring

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much Paul, very much appreciated! Glad to hear that :)

[@usernamehandle]

dude. your videos are remarkable. you waste no time in explaining, but you share so much knowledge and show so much of the process. This is the most practical film channel i’ve ever watched. keep going dude. and thank you, you are helping me get closer to what i want to make.

[@chrisdowswell]

I love love love that you demonstrated this with an older camera!!! Great breakdown and explanation!

[@JerzyCarranza]

Literally the best youtube channel out there. You are a god sent

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much!! :)

[@theory8sf]

I am so glad to have watch this video! You just made a 7-8 year old Nikon camera look like it was made from cine camera! This definitely curb my GAS! Looking forward to your videos!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! And thank you for the support :D

[@justinjurij1164]

your videos are the perfect example for "videography is painting with light" already excited for the next one!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Justin! That's absolutely what video and photo is and it's way more interesting when you think about it as painting with light! Thanks for your support! :)

[@misteral1083]

Rob, your videos are just superb. Lighting is the main area where I am still learning a lot - your videos consistently demonstrate the kind of looks I aspire to and how to achieve them. Hugely appreciate all your effort and the quality of both production and tuition. Thanks so much man!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much for the kind words man and I'm glad my videos are helping you out, and I massively appreciate the support :)

[@samuelpatchett684]

This is one of the best, if not the best, lighting tutorials I’ve ever watched. Thanks. Subed bc of the quality of this video!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! Means a lot! And thanks for the sub! :)

[@tristanjohn]

Thank you so much Rob, it always surprises me how much more I'm able to grasp watching your videos. Other cinematographers seem to just convolute things in comparison.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you Tristan! I'm happy my videos are coming across as understandable, it's a balancing act for sure when you're talking about things like this!

[@jochenretter]

You are just a great teacher.

[@deepgreenmovingpictures2255]

One of the best videos on lighting, for people with very small budgets, I've seen on youtube. Just the right level of detail and very clearly explained. I also think every KZbinr who makes a video about lighting technique should use the oldest, most basic camera they have. A video that's actually useful that isn't essentially gear-porn? Subbed.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Wow, thank you so much! :) Eternally grateful for every comment mentioning how clear these videos are - that's one of the things I worry about the most when I post these haha. It's a great exercise, forces you to take a step back and really nail your lighting - rather than relying on your camera to do half the work. Thanks so much for the sub too! :)

[@ChristopherCopeland]

I finally feel like I’m starting to understand how to manipulate light. Thank you for an incredibly comprehensive tutorial.

[@OVRCRWLR]

Rob, I can't express how useful your videos have been as I'm just getting into cinematography and film making as a hobby. Your lessons and presentations are brilliant. Thank you and keep it up!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much for the kind words and I'm glad my videos are helping and are easy to understand! Wishing you well with it all, it's great as a hobby or a job! :D

[@Bo_Hazem]

I've never considered cinematic shots like these, but after seeing your impressive videos I'm considering to implement this new knowledge to my future work, especial ads or so. Thanks again!

[@nitch3304]

Brilliant clip. Thanks Rob.

[@sarozkc]

Hi Rob, thank you so much for creating detailed videos on cinematic lighting. You are the only person on the whole youtube who explains in details about the lighting plan. Looking forward to more videos. Thank you

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thann you so much, I appreciate it! :)

[@WorldofThaiFood]

Excellent tutorial - nice calming pace too. This was exactly what I was looking for for an upcoming shoot. Always enjoy your tutorials. Thanks for putting in the effort

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Glad I timed that upload well! ;) thank you so much for the support, happy my videos are helping! :)

[@OfTwoLands]

Another great one mate !!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much man! I have your surf documentary bookmarked so I can sit down and watch that later, and probably push me that extra step forward in dropping a couple of grand on the Pocket 6K haha :)

[@OfTwoLands]

@@RobEllisCinematographer Haha nice, let me know what you think when you have watched it :).

[@13StopsPocketFilms]

Man! Well done PROfessor Rob.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Haha thanks man!! And thanks for your continued support! :)

[@toretheesh]

Really helpful.... much detailing... thank you bro

[@thebarberscut1659]

excellent video! One of the best channels out here!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :)

[@techmusic7009]

Excellent,best explanation for lighting scène ever! greeting's from France

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much!! Greetings from the UK! :)

[@sonnybrown4758]

Still can't believe how good this looks

[@lachlanstamp4203]

Hey man, I spent all night learning about lighting ratios and setups and then all I could think of was how much K wanted another Rob Ellis lighting video. As soon as I woke up I saw it in my recommended! THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN haha. Thanks for all the amazing content you make. I think we can all agree that the less frequent uploads are outweighed by the quality. Keep it up u legend

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Hahaha that's amazing, timed that perfectly then ;) thank you so much for the kind words man, I really appreciate it and I'm just glad to know videos like this help!! :)

[@gregoryedwards8918]

Another very excellent lighting video Rob. Not only are these examples aesthetically pleasing but your commentary on how to achieve these looks is top notch. Some of the very best lighting videos on KZbin.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much and I'm happy you think so, thanks Gregory! :)

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

robelliscinematography.com/downloads - Two Cinematic Colour Grades in Davinci Resolve - 21 Minute Video Tutorial for £8! www.amazon.com/dp/B089VT9NSB?ref=myi_title_dp - grab the LAOFAS lantern softbox here! Filling in shadows is important on any camera, regardless of how dark you intend your scene to be. One aspect of a "cinematic" look is control of your highlights and shadows, in such a way to have detail in both - fill light can help you with this, especially on a camera with limited dynamic range. But it can also give you a richer, more detailed image on a more capable camera system too. In the video, we take a look at utilizing fill light for a darker, higher contrast scene, on an older Nikon D800 DSLR. This doesn't mean you have to use fill light for everything though - depending on how you want your image to look, letting your shadows fall into pure black can be very effective for the intended look and feel of a scene. As with any filmmaking technique, this is just one way to achieve a look and feel in your work - there are endless ways to paint with light, create mood and experiment with image making!

[@Om9rr]

Hope you pay this model well, he's been on a lot of videos 😂😂😂

[@Om9rr]

@@abhinavdevaraj1912 I know😂

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

He only gets paid in the pure frustration of manually focusing himself for these videos 😂 when everything is a little less crazy and pandemic filled it'll be nice to start shooting some different models for these videos! Haha

[@Om9rr]

@@RobEllisCinematographer keep up the good work man, I enjoy your videos ❤️👍

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

@@Om9rr thank you man, it's much appreciated! ❤

[@jdsmedia]

@@RobEllisCinematographer get a nucleus nano lol! Great videos btw man.

[@hakeemswinney9237]

Been watching lots of your video recently. I'm learning so much from them, and really really appreciate when you provide birds eye view examples of what you're doing with the lighting and why. Makes it so much easier to retain the information and understand it fully. Same with the bts shots that you do in this. Great stuff overall Rob!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much Hakeem, glad to hear you're learning from them!! :)

[@jffilms5843]

Why didn't I find this channel before? This is gold! Oh my god!!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much!! :)

[@bjacob2397]

This channel is so underrated!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :)

[@matthewboyd4638]

Great work, Rob.

[@obscurity_films]

Always learn something valuable from Rob.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you, that's awesome to know! :)

[@JEOM-qw7yr]

Keep up the good work becos you are helping a lot of people like me. Thank you

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

That's what I like to hear, thank you! :)

[@truonghoangnhan110]

These tutorials are amazing! Thanks a bunch, your lighting are really dramatic

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :)

[@kongvang8825]

thank you Rob! this is a fantastic video!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :)

[@kilbuda]

As a still photographer (with a D800) this is great to visualize using flash. The overall integrity of light direction was helpful. I see a lot of imagery with opposing fill or overly dark shadows with one light that break the illusion of natural lighting. Good stuff Rob!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Absolutely, all of this also applies to still photography, all about that light! The D800 is still my main camera for photography, love it! Thank you!! :)

[@Lemonsharky]

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been stuck at my house experimenting with new techniques so I get giddy when you upload since it gives me something new to try! I really need to get more confident in doing ETTR. I feel like from upgrading from the 5D MKII to the A7SII I’ve been over relying on its high ISO range to get those dark high contrast shots. But what I should be doing is actually still be catering to the camera sensor and properly controlling light and shadow. Rather, using its high ISO as a fallback and not a solution for everything. So thank you for this video, it really affirms what I need to change in my current shooting style! And as always I look forward to the next video!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Aah thank you so much! It's great to know people look forward to my videos, gives me a warm fuzzy feeling haha! Yeah being stuck in is the best time to experiment with stuff like this, we're back in a second lockdown in the UK so I'm in the same boat right now! Yup and I don't blame you for over relying on high ISO - I've never shot with any of the A7S series, but I've seen how amazing the ISO performance is on those cameras and I can totally imagine getting a little too used to that haha. Awesome to know this video has inspired you in that regard though and I really appreciate your comments man! :)

[@speakea_sy5509]

Great tutorial! As awesome as simple. Amazing result! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much! :)

[@jazlusion]

You’re tooo good. This tutorial is insane

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :)

[@Sinancev]

This video just proves you don't need the best gear or arri cameras to make your movie. Pay attention to your lighting and the hard work is done.

[@bakriomar365]

your videos are simply amazing.. your the best thank you for sharing such knowledge

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much Bakri! :) thank you for watching :D

[@MikeOzmun]

Love your channel, mate. Don't know how I've never seen it before. Watching through your back catalogue and loving it.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Mike, much appreciated! Hope the rest of my videos are useful too! :)

[@PuurJarrett]

So pleasant to watch. This makes me feel relaxed, and the video has the perfect tempo. All while learning!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed and happy you learned from it! :)

[@The33scap]

Rob - "I want to show you details in the shadows" KZbin Compression - "na"

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Hahaha always a bit difficult to show subtle things like that on something like KZbin, as long as you can just about see what I'm talking about then we're all good ;)

[@The33scap]

As Jimmy Sullivan would say "thats a thick toe"

[@alihammad6318]

You’re an absolute master at this dude, every video I watch I learn something! Thank you so much for all of this amazing content

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

And thank you so much for watching my work man! :)

[@palmaceiamovie]

Wish all filmmakers could see this. Good vid!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@jasonramirez8646]

Thank you so much for these lighting lessons! You're able to explain things in an understandable way and the music keeps me grounded while watching. You've got a new subscriber right here!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Jason! I'm glad the videos are coming across as understandable too! :)

[@b3rdlala]

Honestly, I would sign up for any classes you had to offer. I love your videos!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you!! :) I may be putting together something along the lines of a low budget lighting course next year when things are a little less crazy! :)

[@CarloManere]

You inspire me Rob loved your videos!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Carlo!! :)

[@AlIbrahim]

This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you for this.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Absolutely, thank you for watching! :)

[@robertolopezfoto]

Like always, an amazing video.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much Roberto and thanks for your continued support! :D

[@NikhilManohar-Live]

Great technique. Thank you!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@actnreact1321]

amazing video man made me feel better that i now know i can get that cinematic look with my phone i dont need a dslr to achieve that look

[@rafsannasfar5137]

I learnt so much. Thank you.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Super happy to know that! Thank you! :)

[@HotChiliDave]

Nice job man. I stumbled upon your videos and found it to be an amazing resource. Keep making more, I love your style and how you teach. I can't wait for future videos.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much man, I appreciate it! :) more to come! :D

[@OPOP-ii8qn]

Incredible video, really helped me thank you

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Glad to hear it! Thank you! :)

[@WilliamCulver]

This was really well explained and put together, thanks so much!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks William! Glad it was helpful! :)

[@ralvis20]

I've had that light ball saved in my Amazon list forever. Definitely going to buy it now! Awesome video thank you sir

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Haha it's a great tool! :) thank you!!

[@hagaivdh]

So helpful!! Amazing videos! Thanks !!! :)

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much, happy you found it helpful! :)

[@sightsoundandsoul1449]

Loving the grade used for this

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :D

[@stevebeat]

Another great video. Straight to the point. Can't wait to try out everything I've learned ! Keep it up.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Steve! Hope it goes well! :)

[@mosadoluwaakinjobi3490]

Love your videos. Well done ❤

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@YannParodi]

Thanks for the insights. Always helpful

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you for watching, glad my videos are helping you! :)

[@ClaudioDesideriFilms]

Awesome and useful examples of how you can get a cinematic look without having a massive gear. Congrats and thanks Rob!😎

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you Claudio! :)

[@nilsen5109]

You are awesome Love your Chanel ❤️

[@moonboi100]

Rob, I appreciate the level of quality and work you put into your cinematography, I was wondering if you could lookinto doing a video on cinematography in sets that are meant to be dark. I am looking for solutions for portraying pitch black darkness versus what a character might expose with say, a flashlight.if you have any videos like that, please let me know!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Andy! This is a really good idea and something I've not really seen covered elsewhere - so yes! It's on the list! :) thank you for the suggestion!

[@moonboi100]

Thank you! Im doing some work right now that requires that knowledge so I'll be making my best attempt at this. Looking forward to your insight!

[@ThongNguyen-fl9jp]

Relatedly, I'd love to see more videos on creative uses of negative fill. Bradford Young it!

[@DatrysiadMedia]

Best advice on this is dont increase you iso to lift the image using a torch should be plenty. Set design and placing the camera in places so that when you use the torch and it passes the camera there are objects and textures so you are revealing what is in the environment. I did a short film just using the torch on my phone and some practicals to test out the camera and it worked well. The challenge was lighting myself. Because I used a phone I placed a smaller light behind the phone so that it would illuminated my face. Be careful of mixed lighting as I don't think I got this right lol

[@moonboi100]

@@DatrysiadMedia Yeah, I've been shooting at base ISO to reduce noise in the blacks and using reflectors or white sheets on areas not in the shot which help for that greatly. What I'm struggling with more is how to manage the different contrast ratios. I figure if you're doing a dark scene lit by a torch, your subject should be exposed enough to be seen but the environment around him should still remain dark. My bounce light seems to fill the whole room. Maybe its a question of set design or camera placement/framing but extra insight on that would be awesome haha

[@rikzak9552]

Thank - very helpful!

[@rtucci3643]

love this tutorials, so useful!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :)

[@alandaniels7104]

Killing it yet I again my man!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Alan! And thanks again for that shout out over on your channel, it's very much appreciated man! :)

[@alandaniels7104]

@@RobEllisCinematographer And Thank you for teaching us so much! Lol

[@cubeboy5526]

extremely thank you for this helpful tutorial

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you for watching!

[@hijazkdr]

eagerly waiting for more videos

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

More to come! :D

[@louierubio]

That Background music is key - thanks! God Bless

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Artlist has some beautiful tracks!

[@louierubio]

Rob Ellis love these videos. Greatly appreciated

[@gritosmusitados]

This is amazing, thank you for the great tips and also keep going man! Greetings from Colombia.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :)

[@otabwill709]

Legend. As usual. 👌🏾

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks man!! :)

[@SteppeGrass]

Hi! Love your videos, always very useful and highly atmospheric :) It will be very interesting if you make a video about how you start to create videos, how you learn about light, what moves you, your motivation, etc. It will be very inspiring, i think.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! :) I've been considering making something like this for a while, but I'm always very dubious about more personal work like this, as I'm not sure how useful it would be for other people!

[@DannyDHidalgo]

Love it!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Danny! :)

[@KaiisChannel]

these videos are great! so helpful to learn about lighting. It seems so simple :D

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! Glad they're helpful! :)

[@YannickFilms]

Great video!💯🔥

[@renzocf21]

very informative video. Keep it up!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Glad it was helpful, thank you! :) will do!

[@holdmedear]

love it man!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks man! :)

[@mattiagri]

This is a perfect example proving that are the ability and the trained eye to get good cinematography, not the latest camera on the market.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks so much Mattia!

[@HouseofAndy]

Your videos are class 👌👌👌

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :)

[@kinopohod]

Thank you for video!!! For support

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@alexshevchenko7805]

I'd watch a movie made entirely from your "I look somewhere" shots. That would be probably the most peaceful movie ever ))

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Haha wow thank you that's so kind!!

[@RushingProductions]

Man, if we ever make a short film or feature length, I know who my gaffer and colorist is going to be 🙌

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

:D :D thanks man! :)

[@mmaneage86]

I'm curious. How many lights do you own as opposed to rent? Love your videos. Very thorough but simple to follow. Thanks for demystifying the process of lighting a scene.