Which term refers to the visual changes in lighting that can create a particular mood in a film scene?

Lighting design refers to the strategic use of light in a film scene to convey mood, enhance the narrative, and support the overall aesthetic of the production. This encompasses the specific arrangement, quality, and intensity of light sources, as well as their placement in relation to the subject. A well-executed lighting design can create dramatic effects, influence audience emotions, and even signify shifts in time or place within the storyline. Through techniques such as highlighting, shadowing, and coloring, lighting design plays a crucial role in helping filmmakers achieve the desired atmosphere and tone.

While color grading involves adjusting the color properties of a scene in post-production to enhance its visual appeal and mood, it does not directly refer to the initial visual changes made through lighting in the actual filming process. Exposure correction and contrast adjustment focus on technical corrections of image quality, often dealing with brightness and tonal range after the image has been captured, but they do not encompass the broader artistic and emotional effects created through the design of lighting in a scene.