Cameo lighting explained

In film, cameo lighting is any lighting which has the talent in light, accentuating them and maybe a few props in a scene. It is often done using spotlights with barn doors. Cameo lighting derives its name from the art form in which a light relief figure is set against a darker background. It helps focus on the subject and not its environment.^[1] Cameo lighting can be used with a fill light, which reduces its starkness.^[2] It is the opposite of a silhouette,^[3] another type of chiaroscuro lighting.^[4]

A problem with cameo lighting is that it can lead to color distortion and noise in the darkest areas.

Notes and References

1. Television Production Handbook, Zettl, p. 173.
2. Book: Hausman . Carl . 1993 . Modern video production: tools, techniques, applications . New York . HarperCollins College Publishers . 978-0-06-500045-0 . 56 . 27 November 2023.
3. Book: Kroon . Richard W. . A/V A to Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms . 30 March 2010 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5740-3 . 24 November 2023 . en.
4. Book: Fourie . Pieter Jacobus . Media Studies: Content, audiences, and production . 2001 . Juta and Company Ltd . 978-0-7021-5656-4 . 17 . 27 November 2023 . en.