ABSTRACT
The topic of balance in lighting follows logically from the earlier discussions of exposure, dynamic range, and contrast ratios. Balance refers to the careful adjustment of lighting levels and colors across a stage scene so all visual elements have intensities and values that fall within the camera’s dynamic range, so it can resolve the brightest and darkest areas with high quality detail. The book is devoted to the lighting design of live entertainment and events being captured for broadcast or streaming. The majority of these programs will have an audience in attendance. Many live presentations have lighting that is created, of course, for the human eye. Exceptionally high contrast ratios are common in stage shows because this adds visual dynamics … and the eye adeptly compensates for those variations and extremes. The camera, however, requires more attention to the relationship of one stage element’s intensity to all the others, to create an overall balanced composition. This chapter examines the lighting levels and target exposures that are customary for audiences in different sized venues, and how to balance those intensities for the camera while still retaining the visual dynamics and creative goals of the production.
