Skip to main content

πŸ’‘ Lighting List

For length I won't cover many styles here, but I'll share more on my Twitter - follow me there for updates.

Photo
NameDescriptionUse Cases
MJ076Mood LightingLighting focused on creating a specific ambiance via color, brightness, etc to induce certain feelings like coziness or romance. More about color/brightness control for strong visual impact.Indoor design, hotels, restaurants, homes to create desired atmospheres and experiences.
MJ077Moody LightingMore about emotional expression and serving the narrative/plot, combining lighting seamlessly with storyline to convey personality and inner worlds of characters. Uses low brightness and heavy shadowing for textured, layered look.TV, film, games, theater to increase dramatic effects.
MJ078Studio LightingLighting setups designed for photography studios, TV, film. Places light sources and fixtures in a dedicated studio to create various atmospheres and scenes to meet different shooting needs.Commercial photography, fashion photography, fine art photography, portraiture, advertising, TV/film production to highlight subjects optimally.
MJ079Cove LightingCommon indoor lighting where fixtures are installed in cavities ("coves") between walls and ceilings to create uniform, comfortable, soft illumination.Provides even room lighting while enhancing aesthetics.
MJ080Soft LightingUses diffused, indirect lighting to create soft, warm ambiance. Usually via fixtures like sconces, lamps, reading lights.Reduces brightness, eases eye strain, creates comfortable atmosphere.
MJ081Hard LightingConcentrated, directed light like spotlights or floodlights focused on specific areas. Creates harsh, bright illumination.Often used in exhibits like museums and malls to highlight features of displays/products.
MJ082Volumetric LightingAdds lighting effects like diffusion, fog, particles, shadows to simulate light interacting with particles/dust in air, creating dynamic, realistic, enhanced depth/volume.Film, TV, video games, animation - adds realism, depth, visual excitement and drama.
MJ083Low-Key LightingHigh contrast via strong side/back light and shadow, with shadows dominating creating tense, mysterious, or somber moods.Film, TV, photography for suspense, horror, crime elements.
MJ084High-Key LightingBright, even lighting avoiding dark shadows, with high brightness and detail. Conveys cheerful, calm, happy moods.Advertising, emotional films/TV.
MJ085Epic LightAdds intense, grand, striking light to grab attention and create visual spectacle/impact.Film, TV, games, theater for sublime, magnificent atmosphere - emotionally impacts audience.
MJ086Rembrandt LightingLighting style invented by painter Rembrandt featuring a diamond-shaped light-dark divide on the subject's face, with shadows covering one cheek and the other lit by highlights. Creates soft, mysterious lighting.It creates a soft and mysterious effect.
MJ087Contre-JourPlacing the light source behind the subject so it shines into the camera, creating high-contrast negative space silhouettes. The blurred light source and strong contours create artistic, abstract moods.The overall bokeh of dark photography caused by the position of the light source, high contrast and sharp contour lines can bring a literary and abstract atmosphere.
MJ088Veiling FlareStray light scattering and reflecting through the lens or optics, distorting the image with haze.
MJ089Crepuscular RaysRays of sunlight breaking through clouds/dust. Called "godrays." Appear at sunrise/sunset when sunlight angles perfectly to penetrate cloud cover.Appear as striking beams of light in clouds, looking beautiful.
MJ090Rays of Shimmering LightLight refraction effects when light scatters/refracts passing through mediums of varying density/temperature. Under the right conditions, light appears to shimmer and refract, creating gleaming beams.
MJ091GodraysBeams of light created when sunlight penetrates gaps in clouds, tree branches, obstacles. Appear in high brightness and slice sunlight into stripes, looking magical. Alternative name for crepuscular rays.