Mr Ray's Tips From DF06

The University of Westminster (my alma mater) has an undergraduate open day on November 23rd 2024 . They have a great range of media related BA courses at the Harrow campus: 2025/26 Full-time Animation BA Honours Animation with Foundation BA Honours Creative Media Arts BA Honours Creative Media Arts with Foundation BA Honours Digital Media and Communication BA Honours Digital Media and Journalism BA Honours Digital Media Production BA Honours Digital Media, Public Relations and Advertising BA Honours Fashion Photography BA Honours Fashion Photography with Foundation BA Honours Film BA Honours Graphic Design BA Honours Graphic Design with Foundation BA Honours Illustration BA Honours Illustration with Foundation BA Honours Television Production BA Honours 2025/26 Part-time day Fashion Photography BA Honours You can BOOK NOW ! Go, do it, even if you weren't considering going there, it'll give you an idea of what to expect and perhaps questions to ask for other visits.  Interestin

 ICYMI YouTube has a library of free music tracks and sound effects for you to use! You'll find the library in YouTube Studio, and to get to that you'll need to 'create a channel' while logged in to YouTube: Note that some require attribution so don't forget to credit the creator in your work.

 Written for stills photography but the science (dont worry, it's very easy to read) and techniques are equally valid for video. Light, science and magic

 Another oldie but the explanation and technique are great.

 Title says it all really. Despite the poor quality (4:3 video anyone?) the techniques are still perfectly valid, for both stills and video. This uses studio flash throughout but it doesn't matter, it's the modifiers (softboxes, reflector dishes, umbrellas etc) that really make the difference.  Concentrate on the position of each light relative to the subject; is it infront, behind, above, below and the size (small reflector, large softbox). Enjoy!

 Some further videos to watch about 3-point lighting techniques. Always remember that these ideas are a starting point , it's important to really look at how each light is illuminating YOUR subject . Play with the lights, move them and study the effect .  And, always look from the camera's point of view A great video on 3 point lighting.  Importantly, mentions how to expose for the background and only then add the three lights one at a time. Long but worth watching. Another 3 point lighting video Don't worry about the brand of lights, concentrate on the type/size. A great example near the end that includes a clever effect using a light bounced off a mirror covered in strips of gaffer tape. Super Dry, but to the point If you're in a hurry....