OVERVIEW:
"T-Lighting" is a simple, 2-light method that's faster and easier to set up than 3-point lighting but is less expensive (yet produces similar results). 3-point lighting is one of the staples of conventional filmmaking, and T-lighting is one of the best parts of my "Fake Filmmaking" method. If you haven't heard of it, I've been developing this method (of budget filmmaking) that's much easier than conventional filmmaking. This article introduces the first part of my "Fake" method: LIGHTS. We cover a few reasons why I think T-lighting is better than traditional 3-point lighting, but my plan is to create a more detailed "HOW-TO" guide in the future (if there's enough interest).
ABOVE: The video above is pretty old (it was the 2nd video I uploaded to YouTube) but it still serves as a brief overview of T-Lighting.
WHAT IS "T-LIGHTING"?
T-Lighting is a simple, 2-light setup which uses the #2 light as both the 3/4 backlight AND as a background light (and the main light is used the same way as it would be in 3-point lighting).
The Reasons I Use "T-Lighting"
"T-LIGHTING" IS FASTER (& EASIER) (Than 3-Point)
"T-LIGHTING" IS LESS EXPENSIVE (Than 3-Point)
"T-LIGHTING" WORKS IN SMALL SPACES (With Low Ceilings)
IDEA 1 "T-LIGHTING" IS FASTER (& EASIER)
It's "faster" because you're only setting up a total of 2 lights (and no boom for the "hair light"). It's "easier" for a number of reasons, including the first point, but also because there are ONLY 2 STEPS TO SET IT UP!
STEP 1: Set up the "MAIN LIGHT" Parallel to the lens, 4 feet / 1.22 meters directly to one side of camera (at approx. arm's length)
STEP 2: Set up the "T-LIGHT" Perpendicular to main light, straight across the "clock dial" (at 10 or 2 o' clock, whichever's opposite of the main light)
ABOVE: The main reason why "T-lighting" is so much faster than 3-point lighting, is that it's less gear to set up (2 lights instead of 3+) and doesn't require a boom (for the hair light).
IDEA 2 "T-LIGHTING" IS LESS EXPENSIVE
ABOVE: The truth is, when background lights are added you actually need more than 3 lights for 3-point lighting...so the cost is even GREATER than you may think (not to mention the cost of extra light stand and the boom for a "hair light").
WHY "T-LIGHTING" IS LESS EXPENSIVE
This reason T-lighting is going to be less expensive, is that it requires only 2 lights, and 3-point lighting requires 3 (or more)! For T-lighting, the main light is about the same as it would be in 3-point lighting (a large, diffused light source) and it's probably the most expensive light in the kit. The second "T-light" isn't very expensive though, and the general rule I use is that it should be about half as powerful as the main light. This second light should also be "open" without a diffuser or barn doors (so the light spills to the sides). The light stand for the main light needs to be a good, heavy-duty one, but the light stand for the T-light doesn't need to be very big. I've even used a selfie stand, or a really cheap video tripod to mount the second light. The point is, when you compare this to the (long) list of items needed for 3-point lighting, the list of items needed to make T-lighting work, is going to be a lot shorter.
IDEA 3 "T-LIGHTING" WORKS IN SMALL SPACES
ABOVE: I started my YouTube channel by filming myself in a small space (my bedroom) in which there was "no room for a boom".
T-LIGHTING WORKS WITH LOW CEILINGS!
Another reason I like the idea of T-lighting (more than 3-point lighting) is that it works when there's low ceilings. Ever tried setting up 3-point lighting while shooting in a small room? You know you really need to add light, but there's no room for a boom! So, the neat thing about T-lighting is you get the 3/4 backlight effect, but you don't need to set up a boom arm to make it happen. It just takes 2 small light stands and one of them can even be a little, tiny tripod (because it doesn't need to be as strong of a light source as the main light, and needs to be close to the ground, to hide it, anyway).
CONCLUSION:
I think T-lighting can produce a look similar to 3-point lighting, but it's so much quicker and easier to set up that I generally prefer it for a number of reasons. The T-lighting layout removes the hassle of having to find set up a boom for a hair light (because a 3/4 backlight is supplied by the "T" light) and that T-light also (side) lights the background, so you don't really need to add extra lights for that.
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