I went into the lighting lecture with very little knowledge on the basic techniques of lighting. I had always understood lighting from a very descriptive perspective as opposed to a knowledge of the way in which certain lighting themes are actually achieved.

The central concept I took away from the lighting lecture is that lighting is relative to the situation and the type of visual aesthetic you are trying to achieve within your movie, as such, there is no prescribed manual to follow but rather, your own vision for the film.

I also realised the salience of knowing and pre-planning shots and the lighting style within them before filming day, so as to remain organised and not waste precious time figuring out lighting techniques. Similarly, we must plan our shots around the knowledge of where the sun enters the room during sunrise, sunset and the period in between.

Another central practical technique is to shoot tests for lighting so as – not only to decrease stress on the filming day but also to achieve the best possible lighting within the frame – one that compliments the costume and visual aesthetic of the environment. I also understood the importance of lighting in that it enables both temporal and spatial continuity; We have much more control over the image as what one sees with their naked eye is not necessarily what is caught on camera.