Efficient Cinematic Lighting with Jeremy Vickery

This lecture covers the principles of good composition with an emphasis on effective cinematic lighting. Jeremy begins by discussing the fundamental concepts behind how light operates in the physical world, providing an overview of topics like reflection, absorption, refraction, color temperature and atmospheric dispersion. He then moves into camera based composition, discussing topics like camera angles, distance, lenses and depth of field which all help to define the mood of a shot. The lecture then transitions into more of the artistic elements of lighting and composition as it relates to computer graphics. Techniques such as three-point lighting, framing, tonal gradients, implied lighting, atmosphere and various lighting setups are used to set mood and assist in the story telling process. These principles are then applied using software: Maya as the primary 3D tool. Jeremy discusses basic software: Maya lighting but quickly moves on to setting up various lighting conditions using V-Ray for software: Maya, to achieve beautiful global illumination effects while still paying close attention to the principles outlined in the early part of the lecture.