Studies in Lumen Backlighting
A series of lighting studies in Unreal Engine 5, each exploring different atmospheres and scales—from the dense, moody noir of a fictional Mumbai to the quiet stillness of a Saskatchewan winter sunset, the ominous ruin of an ancient site, and the overwhelming sense of collapse in a cityscape.
I wanted to experiment with Lumen to recreate the dense, atmospheric lighting style of the noir film Monkeyman, set in a fictional Mumbai. The goal was capturing that heavy, richly colored air, limited to just a few tones, along with deep shadows.
A quick study exploring dramatic godrays and shadow interplay. Used Quixel assets to create an ominous, forgotten ruin. Experimented with lighting angles to amplify shadow depth and mood intensity.
I was inspired by the quiet stillness of a Saskatchewan winter sunset. The backlighting made the mechs’ silhouettes more ominous, amplifying their scale aiming for a sense of wonder and dread.
I explored a mid-lit, asymmetrical composition to see how different arrangements of props and avatars could create the feeling of being immersed in a massive urban collapse.