[UE5] Multi-Light Setups | Wallace

For this lighting study, I wanted to light cinematic shots inspired by chiaroscuro. I was particularly inspired by the work of Rembrandt (colors, directionality, contrast) and Petrus van Schendel for the candlelight. My goal was to convey a sense of inner emotion, melancholy, and loneliness through highly focused light and high contrast.
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| Artistic inspirations |
For the sunlight shot, I took my inspiration from Rembrandt’s use of light and shadow. I wanted to use a strong, focused light to tell a story, guide the eye, and bring a sense of intimacy to this moment of melancholic solitude.
For the candlelight shot I was inspired by the candlelit scenes of Petrus van Schendel. I love how a single, small light source can shape the whole atmosphere, creating a sense of mystery, and drawing attention to the intimacy of the moment.
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| Project Setup |
The project uses Lumen, RT Shadows and CSM, RT Reflections and some color grading in DaVinci Resolve. I used the PBL to set the basics, such as the sunset, the sky luminosity (hdri), the candle, but above all, realistic camera exposure. And I took some artistic liberties, particularly with the night scene, which is entirely lit by fake moonlight using spotlights.
For the environment I used the Megascans Saloon Interior map and then created and imported a Metahuman to place the character and pose it.