Art of Shaping Light
Using Flags

There a numerous things that make lighting difficult. There are many different tools. One of the most underrated and under-utilised lighting tools, the flag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AGVD482rbo&t=113s

Flags are also known as cutters. Flags are pieces of thick black cloth. It is accomplished by manipulating the position of the flag in relation of the light by using a c-stand. it is effective cinema lighting creating manful contrast within a scene.

You can block, diffuse, shape, bounce and breakup the light using these tools. This is very crucial in creating a textured, realistic or fantastic look that is visually much more interesting than just blasting the light onto your subject. 




Essential grip Items.

C-Stands and Gobo Heads


The arms have fixed gobo heads with multiple holes for gripping flags and nets.

Lighting Nets





They come as singles and doubles, like lighting instrument scrims, except the netting is thread instead of wire. 

                



Flags, or Cutters







These are used to block or cut the light. It is used to keep a light from shining into the camera lens or to shadow a wall or any other part of a scene. A flag is made with a black fabric to create or bounce and control the light in a scene.