Short Lighting

Lighting on a person with their head slightly turned, where light falls on the side of the face away from the camera (the narrow side). It happens when the person turns their head toward the light. The side of the face toward the camera falls into shadow, adding depth and weight, and it is extremely common in film. If the shadow gets too heavy, a reflector can lower the contrast while keeping the short-lighting setup.

Lighting positions seen from above. The light is about 45° to the camera’s left, and the bunny turns his head about 30° to the left (toward the light).

Camera view. The side of the face toward the camera falls into shadow and only the far side is lit, so the face looks slim and weighty.

How it feels

Depth
Weight
Serious
Cinematic
Dark mood

When to use it

Conversation scenes in narrative films
Serious portraits
Noir and crime dramas
Close-ups showing a character’s worries

In the movies

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) · Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment India (YouTube) · Original video

Not to be confused with

Broad Lighting: The opposite. The person turns their head away from the light, so the wide side of the face toward the camera is lit.
Rembrandt Lighting: Rembrandt is the name of a face pattern, the triangle of light left on the shadowed cheek. It can be combined with short lighting, which is about head direction.
Low-key: Low-key is the name of a tone, dark with high contrast overall. Short lighting is about the light’s direction relative to the head, so the two can be combined.

Prompt

Keyword

short lighting

Descriptive

Short lighting. The subject turns toward the key light, so the far side of the face is lit and the side nearest the camera falls into shadow.

Try these combinations

Medium close-up + short: a film conversation scene
Medium close-up, short lighting, a man turning toward a window, the near side of his face in shadow, cinematic drama
Close-up + short + low-key: noir
Close-up, short lighting, low-key, a detective in a dim office at night