• Wondering which camera, gear, computer, or software to buy? Ask in our Gear Guide.

lighting How do you think they lit this Blade Runner scene?

See attached images. Really interested in the lighting from this scene in Blade Runner (1982). The motivation for the fill on the characters' faces seems to be coming from the glowing table below them. Do you think that is the actual light they were using or would there be another light setup besides the backlight?
 

Attachments

  • Blade Runner Scene.png
    Blade Runner Scene.png
    383.4 KB · Views: 943
  • Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 10.23.06 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 10.23.06 AM.png
    584.6 KB · Views: 291
  • Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 10.24.29 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 10.24.29 AM.png
    675 KB · Views: 366
dark room. haze machine running.
One bright light behind them, bouncing off the screen in front of them to light their faces.

second light underneath the glass table.

thats my guess.
 
Pretty much what @sfoster said. Look at Harrison Ford's eyes, they give away the answer. The lighting on the front of his face is almost directly ahead of him but just slightly down and to the left. It appears they didn't even change setups for each individual shot. They may have just turned off the table light for the close-ups.
 
There is one big, bright source behind them, motivated as the projection. In the two-shot, there is a cyan source in the table, which looks like it's mostly providing exposure for the things on the table and the two character's arms. It might be providing an exposure on Deckard & Bryant's faces, but I would be surprised if there wasn't another source (or more) at play providing the exposure on the faces. There's also a blue source providing exposure on the two men's bodies, as well as the wall.

In Bryant's CU, the back source appears to have moved around so it's hitting him a little more as a back 3/4 light, rather than a direct side-light. The blue light that was playing more so on his body now also plays on his face. It appears to be pretty '3/4 front-ey' and coming from just underneath (i.e. angled up at him). In Deckard's CU, the back source is in a different position, now back to more of a direct backlight, as per the two. Deckard has the same 3/4 front-ey blue source playing on his face as well.

There’s a haze, plus smoke - it feels like there’s a cigarette on the table.

There’s also a source directly in front of them that’s playing in their eyes and nothing else. This appears to be standing-in for the screen/projection.

Scene here:
 
Last edited:
Back
Top