With the image-capturing power of today's cameras, available light that comes from that bright ball in the sky, or an interior office lamp to help separate your subject from the background should be enough, right?

Truth be told, you don't need to light every occasion. Today's cameras are indeed more powerful than ever. They can capture better images with less light and these cameras continue to improve. However, when you're working for that all-important client or if you're putting everything you have into telling that thought-provoking story, put your best foot forward and shed some light on the subject. In this article we will cover why lighting is so aesthetically important, which types of fluorescent lighting you can pick up without breaking the bank, and how to make those discount lighting solutions work in various situations.

When to Light and Why

Common sense usually dictates when to light and when not to light. Capturing footage of your kid's baseball game or birthday party are situations, which don't typically lend themselves to a bulky lighting setup. In fact, lighting a situation like one of those would probably be far more trouble than it's worth. However, if you're working to create a mood or attempting to give a scene the professional touch, you can't ignore the value that good lighting brings. Sometimes, it might seem like more trouble than making do with natural light, but it's much nicer than down-grading family memories. Good lighting not only has the power to create a mood, it can also work to focus the viewer's attention, or simply give the scene you're shooting extra depth and dimension. In short, a good lighting set-up should be considered as another character in the scene. If done well, it is one that helps propel the scene forward without drawing attention away from the central character.

Fast, Easy, and Cheap

Click through any number of film and video equipment supplier websites, and you will quickly realize that this is an expensive business. Lighting for professional film and video applications can range anywhere from just a couple hundred dollars, to well into the thousands for a single fixture, not to mention the bulb itself (also known as a "lamp".) Depending on your situation, though, you can find just the right lighting rig to give your video that professional look, without relying on one of those expensive options. Remember... cheap light is still light.

Check out your local hardware store and you'll discover a wide variety of bulbs and fixtures that you can use to light your way through almost any situation. Plus, with the wide range of compact fluorescent lights (CFL) now on the shelf, you're not just limited to the old Edison 100-watt tungsten bulb you grew up with, or the long tube fluorescents found in a typical school or office building. Plus, CFLs draw significantly less power than standard filament bulbs. This makes it easier for you to change the light or match the light in a variety of locations using energy efficient materials found in your local hardware store.