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How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 1: Setting Up Your Key Light]

Hurlbut walks through establishing a believable key light source for a night exterior scene, step by step. First installment of a three-part series essential for anyone shooting after dark.

Filmmakers Academy · 15 min · Intermediate · LGT · Lighting · 2020

What you take away

Establish one dominant, motivated key source for a night scene before adding any secondary lights — everything else should support it.

Watch it

Filed under

Films to study for light

Books on lighting

Kit for this lesson

Aputure F10 Barndoors — Cuts the spill off a Fresnel — the cheapest control there is
Aputure MC Pro — Pocket RGBWW — an eye light that fits in a pocket
Aputure Light Dome Mini III — The Dome for small rooms and small fixtures
Amaran COB 60x S — Small, battery-friendly, a good first fixture
NiSi True Color CPL — Takes the glare off water and glass without a colour cast
NiSi Swift VND 1-5 stop — Screw-in variable ND that does not cross-polarise at the ends

More Lighting

Advanced Documentary Interview Lighting - Step by Step — Mark Bone · 25m · Advanced
Filmmaking Lighting Masterclass: Xenon Light | Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 18m · Advanced
How To Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC - Part 3: Lighting Secrets — Filmmakers Academy · 13m · Advanced
How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 2: Matching Urban Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 14m · Intermediate
Film Lighting Techniques that will Boost Your Cinematography with Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 16m · Intermediate
Lighting & Filming Darker Skin Tones with ARRI Signature Primes — B&H Photo Video Pro Audio · 12m · Intermediate
The Easy Way to Not Suck at Lighting — Luc Forsyth · 31m · Intermediate
How to Light a Cinematic Scene with Only Natural Light — Filmmakers Academy · 11m · Intermediate
Hollywood VS Indie Filmmaking (With Shane Hurlbut, ASC) — Brady Bessette · 19m · Intermediate
Lighting for Film: The Complete Beginner's Guide — Luc Ung · 27m · Beginner
Diffusing Can Lights | Cinematography Tips with Shane Hurlbut ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 9m · Intermediate
How to Shoot Day For Night | Cinematic Lighting 101 — Aputure · 9m · Intermediate

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