Lighting Techniques - Film Noir

The common thread of film noir lighting is low key lighting - a style called Chiaroscuro in the art world. Chiaroscuro emphasised shadows and harsh lighting to create  sense of depth and volume in painting. Cinematographers working in the classical film era sought to do the same thing - trying to overcome the bland flatness that bright black and white film could have if there's not much contrast. 

A Three Point Set Up

The most important light of all is key light, this is usually the brightest and most dominant light of a setup. With the key light, complementing it is the 'fill light' which is commonly placed opposite of the key light to fill in some of the shadows left. The final light of the three point set up is the back light - this light adds and outline to separate the subject of the background. In Film Noir, the prominent lighting is always going to be the key and the back light. Fill light is not as important or dominant as exaggeration of contrast is important to get that low key look.

'Hard' and 'Soft' Lights

The hardness or softness of a light is the type of shadow it creates. Hard lights leave sharp edged shadows. Soft lights leave fuzzy shadows and are created by a larger area of light. Out of the two, hard shadows define the 'film noir' look. Soft lighting is used more conservatively, often glamorising female characters. Non film-noir productions, eye light is used to add reflection to the eyes. Film Noir often isolates this light illuminating only the eyes and brow to get a dramatic look. Below is an example of how only her eyes and brows are highlighted, emphasising the expression and emotion she is showing.