The lead-in music begins, an outline is drawn on the wall, then Alfred Hitchcock’s shadow steps onstage and perfectly fits the outline. So began another episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” capturing the imagination of prime-time audiences. Even now, Hitchcock’s work is a videographer’s primer in how to use light and shadow to set the mood.

Always remember, lighting not only affects the clarity of your video work but also how it feels.

Light: Which Kind Does the Scene Need?

Richard K. Ferncase’s “Basic Lighting Worktext for Film and Video” (1992) is the book on lighting you are most likely to read at film school. For a deep dive into the topic of lighting, you can do no better than to study Ferncase and work through the exercises given. This article will give you only a taste of a topic you could spend a lifetime investigating.

First and foremost, it all starts with light type and texture. You first need to know what type of light you need. Some common types include:

• Hard light: Think small, intense, harsh. During the early afternoon, unfiltered by clouds, sunlight throws shadows with sharp, distinct edges. Hard light comes from a single source and travels without angular deflection to the surface. For example, Hitchcock’s shadow was created by hard light. The mood cast by this type of light can range from eerie and hidden to in-your-face and threatening. When using artificial lighting, remember that the smaller the source, the harsher the light will be.
• Soft light: A beautiful woman in a flowing white dress, she holds a red rose and shakes her long, brown hair as she walks towards her waiting escort. The lighting is gentle and without harsh shadows. This is soft lighting. The moods emphasized with this type of lighting include romantic, seductive, non-threatening and comfortable. Remember, the larger and more diverse the source of light is and the wider the coverage, the softer the light will be. Soft light arrives from a variety of angles and can seem more natural than hard light. But, be careful about depending too much on soft light because it can get wearing on your audience, if not interrupted by hard light scenes to wake them up.
• Combination light: Typically, you will work with lighting that lies somewhere in the range between hard and soft. When setting up the scene, try moving the lights around to see how it affects the mood. When shooting outside, you can move from direct light to shade. Inside, you can switch the size of the lamps and the diffusion to adjust mood. Shades, drapes or blinds might also be helpful inside to help lighten, darken or provide mixed light to the scene. Your inner artist will be able to feel the mood as it changes, so trust your instinct.

Use Color to Set the Mood

Videographers have special tricks in the tool bag. One of those is a knowledge of how color affects the psyche. To excel as a film director, you must not only be an artist but a psychologist.

As the artist carefully chooses from the palette to get just the right combination of colors, so the film director can influence the mood by adjusting the light color as well as the set and costume color. If you don’t see how color can affect mood, just think about our language—we see red when we’re angry, sometimes we become green with envy and occasionally we feel blue. Colors are powerful triggers and have a dramatic influence on mood.

Many medical professionals study color and often advise patients to make adjustments in their living spaces to better facilitate desired moods. Color consultant Leslie Harrington explains, “What color you paint your walls isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behavior.”

If you are serious about film, you should study the technical aspects. Find out all you can about cameras, lights and the array of tools at your disposal. Then, film with your heart and see with your emotions, for your viewers are hoping to not only view your film but to experience it.

Guest article

You hear the engines roar before you see them coming. A group of headlights pierce through the dark night as a gang of men on motorcycles races toward you. Faithful followers of the FX show “Sons of Anarchy” are more than familiar with this scene. Sex, drugs, violence, betrayal and drama have been the winning combination for SOA for the past six years. And with “Sons of Anarchy” returning Sept. 9 for its highly anticipated final season, there’s still time for one last ride.

The Rise of SOA’s Leading Characters

The show centers around the SOA Motorcycle Club; A club rife with drama between rival gangs, illegal activities and twisted familial relationships. Jax Teller is the key protagonist of this rowdy and wild Kurt Sutter creation. Jax is a fan favorite who is often found struggling between following the right path or the dark one. Along with Jax, Sutter has created an entire cast of characters audiences are naturally drawn to. There are heroes and villains, with new characters each season to add a new layer to the mix. We root for Jax, feel sympathy for Tara and hope for the demise of anybody getting in Jax’s way.

The Real Stars of the Show

But the show is about the motorcycle club, and the motorcycles themselves are their own characters. The men are always seen riding or fixing their bikes. The characters care about their bikes; it’s sacrilegious to mess with another man’s bike, and doing so is a punishable offense. Prominently featured in chase scenes and rides, these bikes are representative of strength, power and masculinity. Actor Charlie Hunnam (Jax) even rides a motorcycle in his everyday life. SOA is creating an image and persona associated with motorcycles that fans want to be a part of.

A Growing Motorcycle Community

“Sons of Anarchy” continues to get people talking about and riding motorcycles. Shining a light on a lesser-known community, the show has helped motorcycles gain popularity with even the mainstream. Fan websites have pages dedicated to the motorcycles on the show. “Sons of Anarchy” is so popular, FX made a deal with Harley-Davidson to create limited edition motorcycles inspired by the show. Not ready for a life-size bike? You can even get die-cast models of the motorcycles ridden by Jax, Opie, Clay and JT.

Motorcycle sales and registrations have increased 75 percent overall in the past 10 years, according to the US Department of Transportation. More and more people are trading in their four doors for quicker, more fuel efficient motorcycles. But, not all of us can be in hardcore biker gangs like the boys of SOA. If you’re interested in learning more about the biker lifestyle, visit Bike Bandit’s online community page. There you can learn about different models and brands, safety tips, proper motorcycle maintenance and you can even see what other people are doing with their motorcycles. It’s a great resource for riders and biker fans alike.

Guest article