How do you craft emotional contrast with light—using just a single source? In this lesson from On Set: Cinematic Lighting Sources, Shane Hurlbut, ASC breaks down how he lit Amanda Seyfried using a 250W metal halide through a window, blending hard and soft light to guide emotion and focus.
By using a roller shade as diffusion, Shane transforms a harsh industrial light into a soft, sculpted beam—without losing contrast or clarity. You’ll learn how production design, color temperature, and subtle bounce techniques can elevate a single light into a storytelling tool.
This is one of many lessons in our On Set series, where Shane shows how to plan, block, and light with cinematic purpose—turning everyday setups into emotionally charged imagery.
🎥 In the full lesson:
• How to create emotional color contrast in a scene using one light source
• Tips for softening hard light using roller shades and light diffusion
• Matching LED fixtures to metal halide tones
• Lighting through windows with intention
• Using blocking to enhance lighting effectiveness
🔗 Watch the full lesson as part of our Cinematic Light Quality series:
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