Mike Staniforth / Free cinematography resource
Behind
the light.
48 pages of lighting diagrams, behind-the-scenes images and breakdowns from films I’ve shot.
See where the lights went, why I put them there, and how the plan became the frame. Real locations, practical decisions, and the things I’d do differently.
Get the free PDF.
The frame.
The plan. The thinking.
Three sample pages from the download. The full PDF connects lighting layouts with scene context, composition, lens choices and behind-the-scenes photographs.
A kitchen scene built around the windows: an M40 through sheer curtains, SkyPanels for ambience and an S30 for an edge.
Enlarge pageFrom my sets
to your prep.
These are breakdowns from Underwater and The Road to Gehenna, directed by Michael Keogh, and The Farmhouse, directed by Garreth Carter and Will Douglas.
I’ve included the compromises as well as the finished frames: working with limited daylight, lighting a room for the actors to move through, and finding a night exterior with the crew and equipment available.
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