Lighting Terms

KEY: main light on a subject i.e. the sun - low key (soft light) i.e. in a restaurant - high key (hard direct light on a subject)

FILL: a light placed to the side of the subject to fill out shadows and balance the KEY light

BACKLIGHT: a light placed at the rear of a subject to light from behind to create silohettes

AMBIENT/NATURALISTIC: light available before artificial light is added i.e. day light

CHIAROSCURO: strong contrats between light and dark i.e. to distinguish goody/baddy

ACCENT LIGHT/SPOTLIGHT: a controlled, narrowly focused beam of light i.e. to follow a subject

<--- BACKLIGHT

<--- SPOTLIGHT