Key light

The key light can be "hard" (focused) or "soft" (diffused), and depending on the desired setup can be placed at different angles relative to the subject.

The most common vertical angle for the key light is 30° above eye level, so that the nose would not cast a shadow on the lips.

A high key light will result in more prominent cheek bones and long nose shadows.

A fill light decreases contrast and adds more details to the dark areas of an image.

Light passing through tree leaves, window panes, and other obstacles can make a scene more visually interesting, as well as cue the audience to the location of the subject.