Lighting Daytime Exteriors

Learn how to light actors outside using only sunlight, reflectors and diffusion.

Lighting Daytime Exteriors

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
When working outside, the sun can be your greatest asset or your greatest challenge.  This module teaches you how to craft sunlight to create properly-exposed images every time.  Learn how to shoot at high noon and avoid cavernous shadows under your actors’ eyes.  Learn how to use both professional tools as well as make-shift tools when shooting on a distant location.  Improve the quality of your outdoor scenes dramatically with this module.
 
  • 23:10 video that walks you through techniques for manipulating sunlight when working outdoors
  • Complete companion guide
 
For Instructors:
  • Basic Lighting Course Curriculum Guide
  • Exercise - Sun Position
  • Exercise - Bouncing Light
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • How to properly position your subject in direct sunlight
  • The best and worst times of day to shoot
  • How to use the sun as a key light
  • How to use the sun as a rim light
  • How to use overheads
  • How to use shiny boards
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
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Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
David Stump, ASC

David Stump, ASC

Academy Award and Emmy-winning cinematographer, "A Quantum of Solace", "Flight Plan", "Fantastic Four", and "X-Men"
David Stump, ASC, works on numerous motion pictures and television productions as Director of Photography, as Visual Effects Director of Photography and as a Visual Effects Supervisor, garnering Emmy nominations and an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement for Camera Data Capture Techniques.  His credits include such projects as James Bond 22 A Quantum of Solace, Flight Plan, Fantastic Four, X-Men 1 & 2, Into the Blue, Garfield, Panic Room, Deep Blue Sea, Batman Forever, Hollow Man, Men of Honor, Stuart Little, The Sphere, Contact, Batman & Robin, Mars Attacks, Executive Decision, Stargate, Free Willy, and What Love Is, among others.
 
A member of the Producer's Guild of America (PGA), the Visual Effects Society (VES), the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), Stump has been involved in Digital Visual Effects for over 20 years, since the advent of Computer Generated Images for film.  He has also been involved in shooting High Definition images for many years and has been an advisor and consultant to numerous HD camera manufacturers.  In 2001 he was accepted for full membership into the American Society of Cinematographers, where he is currently chairman of the Camera Subcommittee of the ASC Technical Committee.  His work there helps to shape the future of digital cinematography, by bringing together working cinematographers with the builders of their tools. He is currently working on a book that will demystify digital and high definition cinematography.
 
John Gresch

John Gresch

Vice President, ARRI Inc.'s Lighting Division
Based in Burbank,Calif., John Gresch serves as ARRI Inc.’s Vice President, Lighting Division. He has worked for ARRI for the past 20 years, initially heading sales efforts for the Western Division before being promoted to his current position. John is also an instructor of HMI lighting for IATSE 728 (Studio Lighting Technicians) Safety & Training program. He often lectures on lighting topics for union, trade, and educational groups. John is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
Laura Beth Love

Laura Beth Love

Cinematographer, "Zen and the Art of Senioritis", and "Little Magdeline"
Los Angeles-based cinematographer and instructor at Los Angeles Film School.
Mike Uva

Mike Uva

Key Grip "Nip/Tuck", “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, "Everybody Hates Chris", and author "Uva's Grip Book"
Michael G. Uva is a well-respected Key Grip in Hollywood, with over 20 years of experience in film, TV movies, and commercials to his credit, including the recent hit shows "Nip/Tuck," “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, and "Everybody Hates Chris." He is the author of The Grip Book.
Ron Sill

Ron Sill

Gaffer, "Christmas in Connecticut," "Iron Eagle," and "Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby"

Ron is the resident Gaffer with Arri Lighting in Burbank, California, he has worked in the camera and electrical department for over 20 years. His credits include: "Christmas in Connecticut," "Iron Eagle," "Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby," and 16 episodes of "Mike Hammer, Private Eye."