The impact of lighting
Placing light sources in your scene may sound technical, but it is actually a strategic decision that is part of your creative process. Not only does lighting drive your color and guide how you approach highlights and shadows, it sets the tone of the overall piece and is a powerful storytelling tool.
Lighting can amplify the emotions you are trying to convey and used to enhance drama and tension.
Lighting from above (top lighting or overhead lighting)
Top lighting is what we're all accustomed to seeing, particularly for outdoor scenes or from ceiling lamps.
Top lighting can be used dramatically by using extreme contrast to cast sharp, heavily compressed shadows. An example of this would be composing a scene with a character standing under a bright street lamp at night, where the shadow pools beneath their feet.
Top lighting can also be used to enhance a sense of calm or add a divine/heavenly touch to a character.
Lighting from below (underlighting / bottom lighting)
Underlighting has the opposite effect of top lighting.
There's something sinister about it. We are just hotwired to expect shadows to fall down. When we see people lit this way, it distorts facial features and instinctively triggers a reaction.
In cinematography, it is also referred to as ‘horror lighting’. Beyond, using underlighting to stir a feeling of unease, it is also a very effective way to draw attention to the source of illumination, like the candles on a birthday cake, a camp fire, or a character immersed on their mobile device.
Lighting from the side (side lighting)
Side lighting and there-quarter lighting are standard lighting set ups used in photography and scene lighting in film and television.
Like top lighting, it is also perceived as natural lighting as it mimics light coming from a window or when the sun is at an angle.
It is a great natural lighting choice because the way this light hits and flows across surfaces combines smooth gradients with clear, structural shadows that define form.
Backlighting (backlit)
Backlighting is great for making a character pop and lends itself to dramatic and action scenes.
A bright illumination from behind can make a character look powerful, heroic or foreboding.
For action, think of a scene with an explosion or release of energy behind a character. Backlighting helps express the intensity of the moment making the character look like they are leaping off the page.
Backlighting is also very versatile in how you can also use it to make a character look mysterious, using only a sharp rim light to accent their silhouette.
Summary
Treat lighting as an essential creative component, not just a technical rule.
Utilize it to accurately portray three-dimensional depth and volume.
Leverage the emotional associations tied to lighting to intensify the mood and feel of the scenes you create.