Lighting blog tasks

 1) Still image analysis

•  Identify examples of high-key and low-key lighting 

1)  Low-key due to the shadows created. 

2) Low-key as you can only see her face- nothing below.

3) High-key, although it's in monochrome and there are some shadows it is clear that the lighting is bright and resembles the sun.

4) Low-key lighting due to the multitude of shadows cast.

5) High-key as we can easily make out her facial expressions as well as clothing.

6) High-key lighting as we can see both of their faces clearly, as well as their clothing.

7) Low-key lighting as you cannot make out their faces or their outfits, you can only make out how many persons their are in the image.

8) High-key lighting as you can see her face and outfit clearly.

9)  High-key lighting as you can see her face and outfit clearly.

10)Low-key lighting as their are extreme shadows.

11) High-key lighting as you can see her face and outfit clearly.

• Say which depict top, back or underlighting

1) Back lighting

2) Top lighting

3) Top lighting , accentuates features of character.

4) Top lighting , accentuates features of character.

5) Back lighting

6) Under lighting

7) Back lighting creating a very noticeable and cinematic shadow cast on the ground.

8)  Back lighting used to create a harsh silhouette on the wall.

9)Top lighting as she has a shadow cast under her chin.

10) Under lighting

11)Back lighting by the man as he has no shadow. but creates a silhouette for the woman.

• What effects are created by the lighting in each image.

1) Creates mystery 

2) Causes suspenseful atmosphere

3) Creates intimidation

4) Creates intimidation

5) Creates Suspense

6) Creates nostalgia

7) Creates mystery

8) Creates Suspense

9) Creates a calming atmosphere

10) Creates a terrifying atmosphere

11) Creates an enviously loving atmosphere

 

2) Film noir research 

Research film noir - focusing on the genre’s distinctive lighting style. Make notes on the genre and particularly the use of lighting - bullet points are fine. 

Notes - 

• Derived from French meaning "black film"  literally or "dark film", closer meaning.
• Cinematic term used primarily to describe stylized Hollywood crime dramas
• 1940s/50s generally regarded as "classic period" of American film noir
• Film noir era associated with a low-key, monochrome visual style, with roots in German Expressionist Cinematography
• Many of the stereotypical and attitudes expressed in classic noir films derive from the hard-boiled crime fiction that emerged in the USA during the Great Depression.
• First applied to Hollywood films by French Critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognised by most American film professionals of that ear.
• Before it was defined it was referred to as "melodramas"
• Film noir encompasses a range of plots; common archetypical protagonists include a private investigator (The Big Sleep), a plainclothes police officer (The Big Heat), an aging boxer (The Set-Up), a hapless grifter (Night and the City), a law-abiding citizen lured into a life of crime (Gun Crazy), a femme fatale (Gilda) or simply a victim of circumstance (D.O.A.). 

3) Film noir YouTube clip analysis 

Finally, find a YouTube clip that fits the film noir genre and embed it under your research (the clip can be classic noir from the 1950s or something more recent - neo-noir). How does the clip's lighting fit the film noir genre? 

Dressed to Kill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pys1zBR5jX8

The lighting is very dark, with a lot of blue lighting from lightening outside. The flashes of blue light convey that she may be dangerous and is a character to watch out for. The fact that she uses the backlighting from the corridor lights outside the door to illuminate herself, which then hides her face, suggests that she may have ulterior motives. Therefore the lighting truly encapsulates the classic noir genre and communicates many meanings to the audience.