Mel ✨️

Sometimes I just want to be a silly little elf dancing on a mushroom.

FFXIV Screenshot Meme - Open

Now that we know some basic lighting techniques, it's time to wander into the wild!

There's a lot that's out of your control, like weather and natural light. But let's use those to our advantage!

Supplemental Lighting

Remember: you can use the 3-point light sources and the Character lighting settings to bring attention to the subject, making it pop from the background.

In the example below, Freya is pretty dim against the background; so we position a yellow source to reinforce the torch light and a blue source to suggest moonlight.

Oh, one interesting thing about water surfaces: while point lights can't cast shadows...

...it can reflect over water surfaces!

The principle of using a point light to enhance, reinforce or suggest a source can be used anywhere: fixtures, skybox sources, armor, weapons... the sky (well, and the count of 3) is the limit.

Less is more

Simplify your shots. Visual elements draw attention away from the subject. By using Depth of Field (DoF) you can force background elements to lose focus.

Alternatively, you can look for parts of the background with fewer elements (like the sky, a cave wall, or a dark patch of a forest.)

Weather

Dungeons and open areas have wildly different lighting patterns. Don't fight it: instead, try to adjust your sources to enhance the feeling. Overcast weather gives less contrast, the same as night shots. On the other hand, Some instances can give very harsh light. Use it to your advantage.

Environment

Use it. The fact that you're not locked into place means that you can have better action shots, using the environment to help tell a story.

Also, the Golden Hour is real. Sunrises and sunsets give amazing opportunities for shots.

Night shots have their own characteristics, but they're basically similar to studio shots. So rim lights and key lights can bring subjects to the foreground, even if they're wearing dark clothing.

Sometimes the environment is the focus. Draw your character away, and let the beauty of Etheirys sink in.

Framing

Look out for structures that can help isolate your character from the background.

Now that I mentioned these points, let's see how (and why) some shots were taken!

Low contrast, DoF isolating from the noisy background, orange point light to Noemie's right, white-bluish point light to the top left.

High contrast, strong orange point light to the right of Louise, and a white point far to the left.

Here the scenario is totally irrelevant (apart from the general grey tone), So ADoF+Bubble, ADoF + Bokeh, a single white point from the sun's direction, and a high Character lighting.