Mastering the Art of Lighting Day Exteriors: Budget-Friendly Techniques for Cinematic Results
Cover image via Shutterstock.
When it comes to lighting day exteriors, it can be a real challenge. We all dream of having top-of-the-line lighting units at our disposal, but sometimes that’s just not possible. However, don’t despair! There are budget-friendly approaches that can help you achieve a cinematic look even in the toughest scenarios.
Imagine this: you’re on set, shooting a day exterior scene, and you don’t have access to high-end lighting equipment. What do you do? Well, the key is to work with the biggest light source you have – the sun. By shaping and manipulating this source effectively, you can create stunning cinematic images.
Recently, I found myself in this exact situation with day exteriors. Let me share with you my approach to shaping the harsh overhead lighting.
Step 1: Diffuse Your Overhead Source
The first step in harnessing the power of the sun is to diffuse it overhead. We used an 8×8 ½ silk suspended above the talents’ heads to cut down on the harsh top light that the sun can cast during the day. If you’re on a DIY route, you can easily use a white bed sheet or a frosted shower curtain to achieve the same effect. Alternatively, 5-in-1 reflectors with a diffusion silk can be held or placed on a stand above your talent.
Step 2: Bounce in Your Key Light
The sun is the most powerful light source you’ll ever have access to. Once you’ve diffused the overhead light, you may notice that your talent appears a little dark compared to the background. To fix this, simply use a white or silver reflector to bounce in the sunlight onto your talent.
This will add a key light to your subject and balance their exposure with the background. Start with the white side of the reflector for a softer light, and switch to the silver side if you need more intensity.
Check out the video below to see how different bounce materials can affect your lighting.
Step 3: Shape Your Lighting
Shaping the light is a crucial step in lighting a day exterior. One effective technique is to introduce negative fill. Negative fill refers to placing a black solid flag on the opposite side of the key light of your talent. This adds contrast to the talent’s face and creates depth and shape.
Step 4: Rim Lighting/Backlight
If you want to add more separation between your talent and the background, place another reflector behind your talent on the side where you positioned the negative fill. Bounce in a little bit of light from the sun, and you’re good to go.
By following these steps, you can achieve stunning results even with minimal lighting equipment. Take a look at our final image:
Lighting a day exterior on a budget can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can still create cinematic images by harnessing the power of sunlight.
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