First-time filmmakers might not be used to combating backlight and the problems it can bring to a shot. The following article explores what backlight actually is and how you can fight it to maintain good quality images throughout your video production shoot:
1. What Is Backlight?
Backlight is something many first-time filmakers have a real headache about. Backlight is where your background is made up of natural/artificial light that is stronger than any other light source in the scene. This typically happens if your shooting outside or facing a window. A backlight will then cause your subject to become severely shadowed and create a very poor looking shot.
2. Use Your Lighting
Whether you’re shooting indoors or outdoors always try to tackle backlight with your lighting equipment. You may not need to set up your whole set, but try and use your fill light, key light or hair light to counter the strength of the backlight on shot. It’s also wise to try and shoot away from the backlight light source to minimize its impact on your shot.
3. Use Your Camera
Your camera should have a manual setting for controlling the exposure of your lens. Maximizing the cameras exposure setting as much as necessary to compensate for your backlight should help to bring back a good quality image to your frame.
4. Change Location
Working with backlight in any capacity is problematic and despite the alternatives to correct it sometimes it is always worth just switching your location. The time you could save by quickly changing location instead of battling through the problem could keep your video production on schedule.
Summary
There you have it, your essential guide to coping with backlight and to ensure your shots aren’t ruined because of it. By working with these tips you can be ready for any lighting scenario on set.
