Film Language: Lighting

                               Lighting

This still image mainly uses low key light as we can see a strong key light on the left side of her face and many shadows are created. The use of under lighting creates an effect of mystery and suspicion in the audience which is effective in this still as it seems to be a film noir.

The main lighting technique used in this still is high key lighting as the still is very realistic. The director may have chosen to use this technique as it seems to be an historical action film and they tried to make the film as realistic as possible for the audience. There seems to be some under lighting but overall the effect created by the lighting is gritty and realistic.

This still is a perfect example of top lighting. We can see this as the light has mainly been used to accentuate this actresses features. Furthermore the use of low key lighting to create hard and dramatic shadows creates the effect of horror but also passion from the look on the actresses face.

Overall this still has a very dark colour scheme, it seems to use back lighting and under lighting as harsh silhouettes have been created but the bottom of half of his face is heavily lit up. The effect of a dominant figure has been created by the shadows which connotes the film noir genre, however the lit buildings makes it a modern film noir. The most impressive part of this still is the fact that the rain has been lit up to the same standard as everything else adding depth and definition to the still.






This still seems to utilise both low key lighting and high key lighting. We can see a large hard shadow and almost a silhouette in a part of the image which suggests low key lighting and the rest is realistic natural light suggesting high key lighting. There seems to be a key light  coming from the side of the image but there is also a soft under lighting creating shadows. This creates the effect of danger and fear as the lady seems to be in imminent danger but the use of shadows creates the idea that she is afraid of someone or something.






In this still it seems like they are using low key lighting but then you notice the blinds are acting as natural light therefore making it high key lighting. However there is some light back lighting which increases the amount of shadows in the scene. The effect that the lack of lighting has is that there affection is private and just between the two of them but it could create some enigma codes as the audience may be wondering why they are being so secretive.




This still uses low key lighting to create an effect known as chiaroscuro. Where dramatic shadows are created using light and dark contrasts. The director of this has utilised this technique to give the silhouettes and there shadows some sort of character and personality individually. This has been done by using heavy back lighting to make the figures into silhouettes.




Low key lighting is used in this still to create fear and cause questions from the audience as to why the lady is so shocked. Another example of lighting being used to create enigma codes. The director has used under lighting and top lighting to accentuate the ladies features for the actor to convey her emotions to the audience. Creating an eerie and uncertain atmosphere which is what the director would be trying to portray in what seems to be this horror film genre.


A small amount of under lighting has been used in this still to create subtle shadows in what seems to be a still that has a strong amount of low key lighting. The use of soft light creates the ideal of peace and tranquillity which is a semiotic that is connected to the genre of drama or romance. 





The minimal amount of lighting creates the iconography of a horror film which audience can connote from the low key lighting. The lack of lighting creates the effect of uncertainty that the protagonist may be going through. The worm eyes view shot creates the idea that whoever's point we are viewing this from is hiding from the higher silhouette. The discreet use of back lighting also gives the figure an intimidating effect as it seems like it is stopping light from entering the room giving it a super natural feel.






The use top lighting to accentuate both actors features allows the audience to feel the affection of both love interests. The strong back light on the male connotes to the audience the way that the female sees him as her light and saviour. This is further highlighted by the use of low key lighting as it makes there love seem exaggerated and unrealistic. The darkness on the left side of the still where the danger is a use of enigma codes and semiotics as the audience automatically connotes the darkness and the gun with some sort of danger.