Practical Light
Definition
A Practical Light (or "practical") is a light source that is visible within the frame of the shot and appears to be part of the natural environment of the scene. Examples include table lamps, overhead ceiling fixtures, neon signs, candles, and computer screens. Cinematographers often use practicals as motivated light sources, augmenting them with professional lighting instruments to achieve the desired exposure and look while maintaining a sense of realism.
Contextual Usage
The DP tells the gaffer, "The desk lamp in the corner is going to be our key practical for this scene. Can you swap the bulb for a higher-wattage tungsten lamp so it gives us enough exposure? I want the scene to feel like it's lit entirely by that one source."
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 ...
View all 76 terms