{"id":62407,"date":"2021-12-11T11:26:15","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T19:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peerspace.com\/resources\/?p=62407"},"modified":"2024-08-21T10:25:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T17:25:59","slug":"soft-lighting-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peerspace.com\/resources\/soft-lighting-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Soft Lighting: Everything You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like the dreamy, subtle glow that soft lighting can bring to your film project. It\u2019s one of the most popular lighting methods for a reason. And it does far more than just make a subject look \u201cpretty.\u201d It can create feelings of calmness, eliminate hard shadows, and even endear your characters to your audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead, we’ll share everything you need to know about this special lighting effect. And if you’re looking for new places to shoot your next project, we hope you’ll rely on Peerspace<\/a> for that, too! After all, as the largest online marketplace for peer-to-peer venue rentals, we have thousands of production venues in cities across North America and beyond. Simply enter your city or destination and see what pops up near you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, here\u2019s what you need to know about soft lighting and how to use it in your next project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is soft lighting? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are two basic kinds of lighting: hard light and soft light. Hard light is characterized by bright plains of light and sharp shadows. It\u2019s perfect for creating a sense of intensity in scenes of high drama. Soft light, on the other hand, isn\u2019t quite so dramatic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With soft light, the light source is either far away or highly diffused. This causes the light to wrap around the subject, blending away hard shadows and sharp lines. This creates a flattering effect for faces, making soft lighting a favorite technique for portrait photographers. But soft lighting can do more than just flatter your characters \u2014 it can help you tell your story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Why soft lighting is amazing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Great directors and cinematographers know more than just how to create different types of lighting. They know when to use them properly. Soft lighting is fantastic for scenes where you want to create a peaceful atmosphere or lend an angelic quality to your characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soft lighting in Stranger Things<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Season 3 of the Netflix original series Stranger Things<\/em>, scenes set at the Starcourt Mall<\/a> are often lit with diffused lighting from the large skylights. This helps create a sense of ease in the earlier half of the season as Mike, Eleven, and the rest of the main cast grapple with domestic problems over ice cream and shopping. It\u2019s the \u201ccalm before the storm.\u201d In later scenes set at the same mall, we see far more harsh lighting to convey the story’s urgency. It creates the perfect contrast between fun and games and dire stakes as the Upside Down begins to bleed into Hawkins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soft lighting in The Dark Crystal<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at another example from a Netflix original series, this time from the fantasy puppet show The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance<\/em>. In this scene<\/a>, the diffused lighting from the overcast sky softens each puppet\u2019s face as they navigate the forest. Again, it\u2019s another peaceful respite from a series that\u2019s full of high-stakes action and drama. The serene lighting of the scene also highlights both Deet and Hup\u2019s sweetness and innocence, which helps endear them as characters to the audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soft lighting in The Crown<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of kind and endearing characters, Season 4 of The Crown<\/em> had the challenge of portraying one of the most beloved women in human history, Princess Diana. Have a look at this scene<\/a>, which depicts Diana\u2019s famous visit to an HIV ward in a New York children\u2019s hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The filmmakers could have chosen to light the scene with only the fluorescent lights overhead, which would have created harsh and unflattering shadows. Instead, the bright lighting from the large side windows provides an overall softness to the scene, lending an almost angelic glow to both the children and Diana\u2019s faces. It\u2019s a touching moment that highlights Diana\u2019s compassion. This scene helps both the press and the audience fall in love with her character. The soft lighting is a big part of what makes it so successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the course of the series, the directors consistently portray Diana with soft, flattering lighting \u2014 even as she struggles with her eating disorder and crumbling marriage. The overall soft lighting in the final scene<\/a> of the season creates an interesting contrast between Diana\u2019s \u201cfine-on-the-surface\u201d exterior and her tumultuous mental state. It helps garner empathy for her plight from the audience, who try to imagine themselves in her shoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In each of these cases, the lighting is a deliberate choice to tell the story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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