Purpose- My purpose with this instruction set is to teach an inexperienced person how to properly light a studio setting for either photography or filmmaking. I want to do this because in my experience, lighting has been the one thing that can make or break a shot, and it is almost always overlooked or done incorrectly by novice photographers. It is more complex than one may think, and hopefully with this guide I can help people get on the right track.
Audience- While my audience may not be expert lighters, they still probably have some interest or experience in film or photography since they want to elevate their work to a more professional level. Also, they probably are making use of reasonably nice digital camera; otherwise, lighting would not be as big of an issue.
Context- Most likely the user of this instruction set will have a copy of it with them in the studio so they would be able to follow the steps closely. However, amateur or professional, if they user is referring to my instructions in the studio, he/she will be busy, if not overwhelmed. This means I must be clear and to the point, and keep in mind quick reference points to easily guide the reader in seconds.
Strategies- I am going to employ a numbered list that identifies and places certain lights in the right position, moving from most the important steps to the least important, minor steps. In this list I will include overhead diagrams of the light positions (because spatial orientation with words can be vague), and pictures of the different lights to help identify the right ones, or function as suggestions of which lights to use for each type.
Medium- This instruction set would best be presented as a pdf file available online on either a website like ehow.com or a film/photography help site. Also, it would be important that print copies were made available somewhere, perhaps in the Film Studies building somewhere, so that they could be used on set where they are the most useful.
Testing- I am going to have one of my roommates who has no experience in film or photographic lighting techniques. He does know how to use a camera though, so hopefully with the help of my instruction set he will be able to take higher quality, more professional looking pictures.
Response for beginners lighting
They are all very thorough and thoughtful. The author is adept at identifying his audience and making some general assumptions about their skill level and equipment use.
The only area where I sense some weakness is the testing portion, and here it is only to employ more test subjects, perhaps of varying ages and education levels.
The proposed instruction set seeks to explain visually and in the written word how to use lighting, which is more advanced and perhaps more difficult than the one I've charged myself with completing.
The medium might be good in video in terms of how to position lights. The effects of lighting might be best exemplified with photos, and a paper copy of positioning is important too, as the author may wish to illustrate angles with arrows, etc.
Feedback
-Your purpose is solid, and the medium and strategies reflect it.
-Could your audience be widened? Maybe try to reach out to people that would not think they need lighting, but have potential to be interested in it and hook them in?
-Like I said before, this is the perfect medium and strategy for what your goal is, and also for your target audience.
-Let's say the audience was more broad- how would you reach them? More universal places for your print version or for the online publication maybe?