Frame from Mindhunter Tv series.Currently on Netflix.
Nothing can distract a good performance more that too much light.
I find that sometimes we tend to over light a close up.
It needs to feel natural, real and almost effortless. We believe the world we see the characters in. To a certain degree we create this world and so we add the light as we need, to help tell the story.
Too much or light that draws attention to itself and distracts the viewer from the performance amd ultimatley the story.
The frame grab above is a-good example of natural light.
The soft side light feels natural and real and draws no attention to itself.
Furthemore it helps set the tone and mood.
Cinematographer Neil Roach believes the cinematographer is one of the key set dressers on a picture. "The most important things are the script, the performance of that script, and the director's vision," he says. "I see it as my role to create a certain kind of reality that supports the director's vision of that script. Hopefully, the cast seizes the reality in the lighting, which adds to their comfort and security and, just like good props and set dressing, may present them with opportunities to interact with the environment that I have helped create."