Flamelighting

Flamelighting is the use of flame as a source of illumination in photography, cinema, theatre, and historical or real-world lighting contexts. It covers techniques that employ burning fuels—such as candles, oil lamps, gas flames, or torches—or modern flame-based fixtures to emit light. In some discussions, flamelighting also refers to the practical, visible flames used within a scene to provide ambience or realism.

Flames produce a warm, variable light with low color temperatures and distinctive spectral characteristics that can add texture to skin, fabrics, and environments. Candlelight, for example, commonly falls in the 1800–2000 Kelvin range and tends to render colors with a soft, amber bias while flickering and casting long shadows. Gas flames offer steadier output but still introduce visible movement and a dramatic, sometimes harsh, shadow pattern. The intentional flicker and irregularity of flame lighting are valued for mood and atmosphere, especially in period pieces or scenes aiming for historical authenticity.

Historically, flame lighting predates electric illumination and shaped the aesthetics of interiors, runs on stage, and early film sets. In contemporary practice, flamelighting is typically used as a practical, on-set effect to add realism or warmth, or in live theatre for authentic ambiance. Because flames introduce safety risks and color variability, they are often supplemented or replaced by safer equivalents (e.g., LEDs or controlled projections) while flame-light cues may be choreographed with other lighting to maintain exposure and safety.

See also: firelight, candlelight, stage lighting, practicals.