The Start

I’m in the middle of fall quarter in my senior year of college. I only have 2 quarters left before I graduate! Currently, the beginnings of my senior film, Doll Story, is progressing better than expected. I’m in a Techinal Direction class and so for each project has moved smoothly. Last but not least, I’m also taking History of Cinema which has given new context of Cinema throughout the early ages. It’s exciting times, but lately I’ve been feeling out of touch with my true focus, lighting.

I love animation. Seeing characters and sets come to life on screen is amazing, but for me, it’s the lighting that really sells mood. For example, a room with an open window has constantly changing lighting. From sun rise to sun down, from street lights casting weird shadows as cars go by to starry night sky, lighting can be just as dynamic as characters.

So, I’ve challenged myself to find dynamically lit photos or concept art from online and recreate each scene. The focus is on lighting over than shading. However, having good shaders can really excel with lighting.