Lighting Eyes Wide Shut

This shot is from Eyes Wide Shut (1999), directed by Stanley Kubrick. The lighting here creates a stark contrast between warm and cool tones, contributing to the emotionally distant and unsettling atmosphere. Let's analyse the lighting and discuss how to replicate it using household lights.

1. Lighting Analysis

• Cool Blue Key Light (Left Side)

  • A strong blue light illuminates the subjects, especially on the left side of the frame. This light casts a cool, almost unnatural tone on the characters, particularly on Tom Cruise’s face and shirt.

  • The blue light is likely meant to convey emotional distance and isolation, amplifying the tension between the characters.

• Warm Tungsten Back Light (Right Side)

  • In contrast, a warm, orange light is coming from the back right side of the frame, illuminating the wall and parts of Nicole Kidman’s figure.

  • This warm light creates an inviting but contrasting backdrop, symbolising warmth or intimacy that contrasts with the cold, blue light on the characters.

• High-Contrast, Colour-Coded Lighting Scheme

  • The scene uses a colour dichotomy to evoke a sense of duality or conflict. The sharp contrast between blue and orange divides the space, making each color more vivid.

  • The use of contrasting colours without much fill light adds depth and drama to the scene, emphasizing emotional disconnect.

2. Setting Up the Scene with Household Items

• Cool Blue Key Light:

  • For the blue lighting, use an LED or lamp with a cool, blue-tinted light bulb. Alternatively, place a blue gel or sheer blue fabric over a regular light to create the desired colour.

  • Position this light close to the subject and angle it from the left side, allowing it to cast a dominant blue tint across the subject’s face and body.

• Warm Tungsten Back Light:

  • Use a warm (yellow/orange) lamp or a standard tungsten bulb on the right side, towards the back of the setup, to provide a warm glow to the background.

  • Angle this light so that it illuminates the background and casts a warm hue on one side of the subject, without spilling too much onto the blue-lit areas.

• Create Separation Between Colors:

  • Ensure that the blue and warm lights do not overlap significantly, so the contrasting colors remain distinct. You may need to adjust the angles or add some distance between the lights to prevent them from blending.

3. Camera Settings for Replication

• White Balance: Set your camera’s white balance to a neutral setting or adjust it to slightly favor cool tones to emphasize the blue without washing out the warmth.

• Contrast and Shadows: Increase the contrast in the settings, if possible, to accentuate the separation between light and shadow. This will enhance the scene’s moody and divided feel.

• Exposure: Keep the exposure moderate to low to prevent the colors from appearing too saturated, while maintaining the high-contrast look.

Experiment with the light placement and angles until you achieve the desired color separation and contrast. This setup can create a powerful effect with minimal equipment!