Today, we're going to show you how image-makers
use light and shadow
to create visual depth and contrast.
From paintings
to the silver screen.
This is "What is Chiaroscuro?"
When it comes to lighting,
certain moments are best captured with brightness.
Or darkness.
And although those are certainly valid choices,
when a director or cinematographer combines light and shadow
this high contrast lighting
can add a third dimension to their films
by way of Chiaroscuro.
Leonardo da Vinci said,
"A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black..."
Because all things in nature are dark
except where exposed by the light.
Chiaroscuro is translated from Italian.
For "Chiaro" which means clear or bright.
And "Oscuro" which means obscure or dark.
"- You're so dark!
Do you sure you're not from the DC universe?"
Chiaroscuro was popularized in the Renaissance period
and used by artists like da Vinci
and Caravaggio.
Caravaggio in particular was a master of this craft.
Mixing light and shadow with effortless grace
to give the images contrast
depth and dimension.
You can see how the figures seem to pop off the background.
It's the illusion of three dimensions
on a two-dimensional plane.
Film is also a two-dimensional medium.
And it's no wonder that filmmakers
have taken up the lessons of these Renaissance masters.
You may have seen the stark contrast
used in popular films like "Casablanca",
"Blade Runner",
and "The Tree of Life".
♪ ♪
But Chiaroscuro truly began
with the German expressionist movement
in the twenties.
In films like "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari".
"Nosferatu".
"Metropolis".
And "M".
The lighting style of these films
inspired generations of filmmakers.
Great emphasis on Chiaroscuro
was given in cinematography
during the middle part of the 20th century.
Directors like Orson Welles.
"- Yes."
Ima Bergman.
And Carol Reed.
Changed the way Chiaroscuro
added atmosphere to films.
Where post-war pessimism and moral ambiguity
is reflected in both the visual style
and the stories themselves.
In films that explore the darker side of human behavior.
♪ ♪
Without high contrast lighting
Colonel Kurtz's descent into madness wouldn't be so haunting.
"- Are you an assassin?"
- I'm a soldier.
- You're neither."
Man's corporal Scofield escape would not be so harrowing.
"- God save me. I'll finish him."
"Sin City" wouldn't be so gritty.
"- Care for a smoke?"
Consider this moment from "American Beauty"
and how the lighting anticipates a confrontation.
"- Where did you get that?
- My job.
- You don't lie to me.
I saw you with him.
- You were watching me?"
♪ ♪
Look at how the lighting in this shot
presents Alex and his droogs as threatening menace.
Or how Barry and Lena's postcard moment
is captured in silhouette.
Horror thrives on chiaroscuro lighting.
As Pennywise well knows.
"- Georgie meet Pennywise."
Chiaroscuro lighting is centuries old
and there's a reason it's been used in countless works of art.
Light mixed with dark is practically elemental.
"- Hi, Joker."
It's good and evil with us
stuck in the middle.
"- You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness.
And I won't kill you
because you're just too much fun."
Keep Chiaroscuro in mind
when planning your next shoot.
You can turn a simple set into something dynamic.
You will create mood and atmosphere.
You can echo complicated ideas like moral ambiguity.
No matter the genre
or the tone you're aiming for
chiaroscuro lighting can turn even the most typical shots into gold.
As you enter the planning stage of your next production,
you may want to start with a shot list.
In StudioBinder, you can add chiaroscuro
to your storyboards to help visualize the scene.
In the description, you'll find links to more articles on chiaroscuro,
rembrandt lighting,
"- Do you even know what that is?"
and other lighting techniques.
As well as our free ebook on exposure,
to help you balance the light and dark.
Add a little light into the darkness
by subscribing to our channel
where our goal is to add a little dimension
to your filmmaking skills.
Until next time.
"- M really doesn't mind you earning a little money on the side, Dryden.
She'd just prefer it if it wasn't selling secrets.
I know where you keep your gun."