Question 1

 Lecture 7 Lighting: What was covered? Do you think the content is relevant to your project? And why?

Robin showed us how to manipulate the lighting in different way. He illuminated the differences between hard lighting and soft lighting. The measure of hard lighitng or soft lighitng is depenent on the harsh of shadows. Hard light creates much more shadows on subjects than soft light. We have to consider the shadows and exposure on subject’s face. The manipulate of lighting is how to illuminate the scene or character better. We should correct the lighting while we are filming. Hard light seems more dramatizing than soft light. Thus, we also should think of the atmosphere as well.

Question 2

Select from one of the readings from week 5, 6 or 7 and describe two points that you have taken from it. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.

It is recommended to read all of the readings.

The idea of onside and offside key lighting is very new for me. Ideally, a key light should stay on 45 degree off from the camera axis, but actors in film are not always stationary. Lighting also has to be motivated to match the shots. For example, I start a medium long shot in front of the characters to establish the scene. I change camera position to do a reverse shot on characters revealing their conversation. I shouldn’t change my key light position as match 45 degree off the camera axis. Lighting is conspicuous, it makes audiences confused when they notice the lighting is different.

The notion of soft light is a diffused rather than a soft degree of light. Usually, there are three categories soft light: commercially  lute box-type luminaries, any lamp with diffusion in front of it, or light from any source bounced off a reflective surface. A hard light sources can be softened by a bounce or a diffusion.

Question 3

In this scene, Antonioni uses many dolley tracking shots. The most important thing is how to keep the shots continuous. There were a several of things Antonioni had to consider as he was these shots. Firstly, the movement of actors is important to know. Camera always follows actors’ movement so cinematographer has to assume what is the best way to manipulate the camera. Secondly,  the movement framing is significant. The camera operator should know where is the starting frame and where is the ending frame. Thus, he could be able to manipulate the frame easily in shooting. The third thing is focus. Cinematographer has to adjust the focus while actor or camera moving in the scene. Therefore, cinematographer should know the focus point of starting position and ending position. Finally, lighting is continuous. As actors move around in the scene, the actors should be covered by lighting all the time.