{"id":98015,"date":"2018-01-04T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=98015"},"modified":"2018-01-04T10:33:30","modified_gmt":"2018-01-04T16:33:30","slug":"understanding-inverse-square-law-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/understanding-inverse-square-law-lighting\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinematography Tip: Lighting Your Production with the Inverse Square Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning how to shape light is one of the best skills that you can develop as a cinematographer. Find out how with the Inverse Square Law.<\/h2>\n

Cover image via Borb<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Light is the most essential of a cinematographer’s tools. By diving into the physics of how exactly light moves, you can improve how you work with this fundamental filmmaking element. The Inverse-Square Law<\/a>\u00a0tells us, as filmmakers, what we can expect to happen to our subjects as they move away from our lighting setups \u2014 and how to control this process.<\/p>\n

\"Cinematography
\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Distance<\/h3>\n

First, let\u2019s look at an on-set example\u00a0of how the inverse square law will save you time and make you look like a lighting wizard. Let\u2019s say your key light is ten feet away from your subject. You’re getting a reading of 1.4 on your light meter, which is too dark for your lenses and would force you to up your ISO to a less-than-desirable\u00a0degree\u00a0to get the exposure. If a 2.8 is the exposure you’re going for, you can simply reduce the distance from your\u00a0light to your subject by half.<\/p>\n

The inverse-square law states that doubling the distance increases (or decreases) the exposure by two stops \u2014 or 75 percent. By moving the light from ten feet away to five, you get your perfect 2.8 exposure. By using the inverse square law, you can quickly\u00a0arrive at this solution without too much headache.<\/p>\n