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FilmSkool — a free film school

The Easy Way to Not Suck at Lighting

Luc Forsyth walks through the lighting habits that separate amateur footage from professional-looking work, focused on motivation, contrast ratios and matching light to the story. He draws on run-and-gun documentary experience rather than studio setups.

Luc Forsyth · 31 min · Intermediate · LGT · Lighting · 2025

What you take away

Ask what is motivating each light source in a scene before you turn it on.

Watch it

Filed under

Films to study for light

Books on lighting

Kit for this lesson

Rosco Cinegel filter pack — CTB, CTO, diffusion — the colours a set runs on
Aputure MT Pro — A pocket pixel tube
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
NiSi True Color 1-5 stop VND — Variable ND that does not turn faces green
PolarPro Mist Edition VND — Diffusion and ND in one piece of glass

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 1: Setting Up Your Key Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 15m · Intermediate
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
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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