Background Light

Light that shines not on the person but only on the wall or background behind them. Three-point lighting only covers the person, so the brightness and color of the background are set separately with this light. The light itself is kept out of frame, and in interviews it is best to light the background evenly, without blotches or harsh shadows.

Lighting positions seen from above. The key light lights the face from about 45° to the camera’s left, and the background light separately lights the gray wall 1.5 m behind the character.

Camera view. A soft, bright pool of light forms on the wall behind the head, so the character stands apart from the background.

How it feels

Depth
Separation
Orderly
Focus

When to use it

Interview shoots
Drawing the eye with a bright circle behind a person
Portraits that change only the background color with a colored gel
When the person and background are both dark and the image feels cramped

In the movies

Psycho (1960) · Source: Movieclips (YouTube) · Original video

Se7en (1995) · Source: Movieclips (YouTube) · Original video

Not to be confused with

Hair Light: A hair light lights the back of the person (head and shoulders); a background light lights the background surface behind them.
Three-point Lighting: Three-point lighting covers only the person, with key, fill and back. A background light is a fourth light outside that, handling the background separately.
Silhouette: If only the background is bright and there is no light on the person, they stay a black shape. A background light differs in that the person is lit separately too.

Prompt

Keyword

background light, lit background

Descriptive

A key light from 45 degrees camera left on the face, and a separate light illuminating the background wall behind the subject, creating a soft pool of light behind the head.

Try these combinations

Medium close-up + background light: an interview
Medium close-up interview, soft key light, a separate light evenly illuminates the background wall behind the subject
Close-up + low-key + background light: a circle of light behind the head
Close-up portrait, low-key, a soft spot of light on the grey wall behind the head, subject separated from the background