Barn Doors
Definition
Barn Doors are adjustable metal flaps attached to the front of a lighting fixture that can be opened and closed to control the spread and direction of the light beam. They consist of four hinged flaps (two on the top and bottom, two on the sides) that can be independently adjusted to shape the light, prevent it from spilling onto unwanted areas, and protect the lens from flare. Barn Doors are one of the most basic and widely used light control accessories in film and television production.
Contextual Usage
The gaffer adjusts the barn doors on the key light: "I need to close the bottom barn door to prevent the light from spilling onto the floor. And open the top one a bit more to get more coverage on the background. The left side barn door needs to come in to keep the light off the camera lens."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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