Lighting Techniques

Lighting Techniques

Tron: Legacy

Tron: Legacy implements a lot of low key lighting throughout the film. This effect is successful in this particular film seeing as it is set in a video game world where everything seems to be going wrong and is very dark. There is an evil that is taking over the world that requires a sort of cool, dark, shadowy setting which is exactly what this lighting allows. The main character of this film, Sam Flynn, is clearly an outsider to this world and by using the low key lighting effect the audience gets a better feel for just how isolated and different he feels from everything surrounding him. Using this low lighting gave a sense of entrapment as the character is trying to find an escape from this deep, dark mess he has found himself in.

Skyfall

Skyfall is another film that successfully uses low light to tell a story. In this action film, there is a quite larger array of color used, typically changing from scene to scene, unlike Tron: Legacy which focuses on the cooler, more blue tones. Despite jumping from white to yellow to blue, however, Skyfall still relies heavily on the low lighting to create suspense and danger in each scene. Seriously though, it wouldn't be a James Bond movie without a heavy amount of mystery and tension.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz uses a lot of high key lighting throughout the film to display the bright, wonderful world that is Oz. Every character in the film is lit very brightly to display their unique beauty that is individual to themselves. Dorothy is often lit brightly -- especially for close ups -- to display her innocent nature as well as her optimism that there is good in everyone.

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby has a pretty good mix of high and low key lighting. However, I would say there is probably a good bit more high key lighting in this film as everything about it is romantic in more of a sweet, almost cheesy way rather than in a passionate, seductive way (where low lighting might be more effective). The scenes that seem to never fail to be very bright are the ones in which Gatsby throws an elaborate party or those in which Daisy is included and not upset about something. This film is set in an age when everyone is attractive and fun and in love. And what better way to highlight these defining characteristics than with high key lighting?