In this episode of People Play Story, we delve into the fascinating world of lighting and its profound impact on communication and storytelling. Host Martin Kloss, a professional story coach and speaker trainer, explores how different lighting settings can evoke various emotions and set the mood in different environments. From the cozy warmth of candlelight to the starkness of fluorescent bulbs, lighting plays a crucial role in shaping our experiences and perceptions. Martin shares insights from his book, "People Play Story," and discusses the concept of light as a storytelling tool, drawing parallels with film noir and romantic settings.
Listeners are introduced to the technical aspects of lighting, such as color temperature measured in Kelvins, and the three-point lighting technique used in film and photography. Martin emphasizes the importance of understanding and adjusting lighting to enhance video calls and presentations, offering practical tips for creating the right atmosphere. Whether it's a product launch or a casual conversation, the episode highlights how strategic lighting choices can influence behavior and emotions, encouraging listeners to become more aware of their lighting environments and make small changes to improve their communication impact.
[00:00:08]
Martin Kloss:
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Have you ever, like, walked into a place and just, you know, felt a certain way? You mean, like, the atmosphere of a room? Exactly. Like a dimly lit jazz bar. It's got that whole different feel from, say, a super bright coffee shop. You know? Yeah. Totally. We're diving into how lighting affects communication today, And let me tell you, some of the stuff you sent in is, wow,
[00:01:15] Unknown:
really makes you think. It really is amazing how often we just kind of don't even notice lighting. You know? It's like we take it for granted. Yeah. Exactly. We think about being able to see, but not really about how it shapes the whole experience. It's like this excerpt from People Play Story.
[00:01:29] Unknown:
It talks about light as storytelling. Oh, interesting. Like, it sets the mood right. Right. Build suspense. Like like, old film noir movies, all those shadows. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Creates atmosphere. Totally. Absolutely. Yeah. Like, imagine a romantic dinner,
[00:01:46] Unknown:
candlelight Oh, yeah. Versus, like, harsh fluorescent bulbs completely changes the experience. Huge difference. Yeah. Light just taps into our emotions, how we perceive what we see. Okay. So it's not just, like, that there's light. It's the kind of light.
[00:02:01] Unknown:
This is where it gets kinda cool. The source mentions color temperature. Yeah. And they measure it in Kelvins. Kelvins.
[00:02:08] Unknown:
Right. I'm not gonna lie. That sounds a little intimidating to me. A little bit. Yeah. It's a little it sounds very technical, doesn't it? Like Star Trek technical? It is actually pretty simple. Okay. Good. Basically, lower Kelvins, think those warm, like, orange y red colors you see at sunset. Mhmm. Those tend to create that cozy kind of intimate feeling. Okay. And then higher Kelvins, those are the cool blues and whites we see more in, like, daylight. And those tend to make us feel more alert, maybe a little more energetic.
[00:02:37] Unknown:
So wait. Is that why when I went to that Spanish restaurant, it felt so stark and cold? And I don't just mean the gazpacho.
[00:02:44] Unknown:
Maybe. It's funny you mentioned that the source actually talks about how where we grow up, what we're used to in terms of natural light, that actually influences how we perceive warm and cool lighting. Get out. Yeah. So someone from, say, Norway, they might walk into a Mediterranean restaurant and be like, woah. Woah. What's up with the lighting here? That's so wild. Okay. Now we're getting into the really technical stuff. So what is this, like, next level lighting wizardry we're talking about? It's actually less complicated than it sounds. We're talking about three point lighting. Okay. Which is basically, like, if you're into film, photography,
[00:03:21] Unknown:
you know, even video calls these days. Right. It's like the gold standard. Got it. Okay. So your key light, your main light source Mhmm. Your fill light. So it's kinda, like, fills in the shadows, evens things out. And then you've got your backlight coming from behind the subject. Okay. And that adds some depth, makes it look less flat. Got it. So, like, you're saying it's you build the lighting. Yeah. It's like a recipe. You've got your ingredients. Okay. I like that. Yeah. And each one has its own purpose.
[00:03:46] Unknown:
Nope. But the backlight thing, that's what keeps things from looking, you know, flat and two dimensional. Makes it look less like, you know, I just stuck a camera in my face. Exactly. It makes the subject pop off the screen. Oh, okay. So that's that's Yeah. Like, you ever notice how some video calls just look? Like Way better. Way better. Yeah. And you're like, what is it about their setup? Like, their TV anchor or something. Exactly. Yeah. I never would have thought about the lighting. Lighting is often yeah. It's the secret sauce. Okay. Well, this is good to know because the source had some tips for video calls, which I thought this was really interesting. Yeah. They said, know your light. And I'm like, okay. Well, what does that mean? Right. Like, literally, how do you know your light? Yeah. But it's like you gotta figure out where are those three points. Yeah. Key light, fill light, backlight. Have them in your head. And and this is what got me don't be afraid to make adjustments. Like Yeah. Move stuff around. Absolutely. Yeah. I never would have thought to do that. It's amazing. Like, if you've got a lamp in your home office Right. Just repositioning it can make a huge difference. Really? Yeah. It's like you're literally controlling how people see you. Yeah. Which is kind of a powerful thing. I know. Okay. See, this is what I'm talking about. My mind is officially blown.
[00:04:59] Unknown:
It's true. So we've gone from, like, spooky movies to my home office setup. Right. Exactly. It's like, it's not just about aesthetics. Is it this lighting? We are sending signals with these lights. We are. We are. Whether we mean to or not, we are. Whether we realize it or not. Yeah. Exactly. Think about it like a grocery store. Oh, yeah. Super bright. Right. Like, they want you to see everything. They want you to see everything. Buy everything. Yeah. Make those products pop. Right. Linger a little longer. Exactly. Or, like, think about a bar. They're probably not using fluorescent lights. No. Totally. It's all mood lighting in there. Right. Creating that atmosphere. Oh, or, like, when you go to those fancy clothing stores and the dressing rooms have those, like, really flattering lights At the warmth. And you're like, oh, I look amazing. That's on purpose. It's totally strategic. It is. It's very strategic. Oh, that is so good. Yeah. Or even, like, think about, like, a waiting room. Okay. Like, a doctor's office versus, say, like, a spa. Oh, yeah. Totally different parts. Totally different. Those lighting choices are, like,
[00:06:02] Unknown:
deliberate.
[00:06:03] Unknown:
It's true. I never thought about it like that. Yeah. To kind of, like, influence how you feel,
[00:06:09] Unknown:
influence your behavior. And these principles apply whether we're talking about, like, a multimillion dollar film set Right. Or your next My next presentation. Oh, speaking of There you go. I've got this presentation next week. And, honestly Yeah. Never even crossed my mind to think about the lighting. Well, now is the time. Okay. Yeah. I guess so. What kind of what kind of presentation is it? What are you going for? It's like a product launch, so I kinda want it to feel, you know, exciting.
[00:06:36] Unknown:
High energy. You want people to be excited about the product? You. Yeah. But, like, still keep the focus on the product itself. Got it. So not too distracting. You want the right kind of Yeah. The balance. So what would you do lighting wise?
[00:06:49] Unknown:
Go a little cooler with the lighting and a little more energetic. Like, those those tech launches you see where they've got With the spotlight. The spotlight on the speaker and the new gadget. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like that kind of dramatic? That's creating focus. Right? Okay. But you can still have warmer light kind of in the background to add some some visual interest and Dimension. Yeah. Dimension. Okay. Well, I'll see. It's all about balance. This is I'm telling you, I've been so focused on what I'm actually saying in my presentations. Content. Yeah. Yeah. Like, the content. The slides. Right. Never even thought about The lighting. Lighting as part of it. It's easy to overlook. Right? Totally. But once you start paying attention,
[00:07:28] Unknown:
you see it everywhere. Everywhere. Even just, like, a conversation Yeah. You know, having a chat with a friend Yeah. A park bench bathed in sunshine, that's gonna feel different than, like,
[00:07:38] Unknown:
a dark corner in a coffee shop. Well, that's so true. You're right. Right. It's not just these, like, big formal things. It's like
[00:07:45] Unknown:
everyday interactions. Everyday life. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. Wow. Next time you meet someone, just take a second. Yeah. Notice the lighting. Okay. Is it warm? Is it inviting? Or does it feel a little cold? Cold, impersonal?
[00:08:00] Unknown:
Yeah. You know, do you wanna stay there? Yeah. Or are you like, okay. Let's move this along. Let's get out of here. Looking around my apartment now, like, what are my lamps saying? That's the fun part. Right? I guess so. Yeah. Once you're aware of it. Right. You can make it work for you. Go. It's like another tool in your toolbox. Like a superpower or something. Kind of. Yeah. Whether it's a video call, a presentation Yeah. Just a chat with a friend. Okay. Little bit of this lighting know how, it goes a long way. Okay. So here's a challenge for everyone listening. Alright.
[00:08:30] Unknown:
What's one small change you can make today, like, right now to use this to your advantage? You know? I like it. Maybe it's your desk lamp. Maybe it's finding a sunny spot for your next meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Or even just noticing the lighting in your next Zoom call. Yeah. I don't know. Little tweaks can make a big difference. Right? Absolutely. They really can. Yeah. Awesome. Well, this has been fascinating. I've learned so much. Me too. It's been a great conversation. Thank you so much for, for illuminating all this for us. No pun intended. You got it. Anytime. And to everyone listening, keep those lights shining bright, and we'll catch you next time on the Deep Dive.
[00:09:13] Martin Kloss:
Hi everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martin klaus dot com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Have you ever, like, walked into a place and just, you know, felt a certain way? You mean, like, the atmosphere of a room? Exactly. Like a dimly lit jazz bar. It's got that whole different feel from, say, a super bright coffee shop. You know? Yeah. Totally. We're diving into how lighting affects communication today, And let me tell you, some of the stuff you sent in is, wow,
[00:01:15] Unknown:
really makes you think. It really is amazing how often we just kind of don't even notice lighting. You know? It's like we take it for granted. Yeah. Exactly. We think about being able to see, but not really about how it shapes the whole experience. It's like this excerpt from People Play Story.
[00:01:29] Unknown:
It talks about light as storytelling. Oh, interesting. Like, it sets the mood right. Right. Build suspense. Like like, old film noir movies, all those shadows. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Creates atmosphere. Totally. Absolutely. Yeah. Like, imagine a romantic dinner,
[00:01:46] Unknown:
candlelight Oh, yeah. Versus, like, harsh fluorescent bulbs completely changes the experience. Huge difference. Yeah. Light just taps into our emotions, how we perceive what we see. Okay. So it's not just, like, that there's light. It's the kind of light.
[00:02:01] Unknown:
This is where it gets kinda cool. The source mentions color temperature. Yeah. And they measure it in Kelvins. Kelvins.
[00:02:08] Unknown:
Right. I'm not gonna lie. That sounds a little intimidating to me. A little bit. Yeah. It's a little it sounds very technical, doesn't it? Like Star Trek technical? It is actually pretty simple. Okay. Good. Basically, lower Kelvins, think those warm, like, orange y red colors you see at sunset. Mhmm. Those tend to create that cozy kind of intimate feeling. Okay. And then higher Kelvins, those are the cool blues and whites we see more in, like, daylight. And those tend to make us feel more alert, maybe a little more energetic.
[00:02:37] Unknown:
So wait. Is that why when I went to that Spanish restaurant, it felt so stark and cold? And I don't just mean the gazpacho.
[00:02:44] Unknown:
Maybe. It's funny you mentioned that the source actually talks about how where we grow up, what we're used to in terms of natural light, that actually influences how we perceive warm and cool lighting. Get out. Yeah. So someone from, say, Norway, they might walk into a Mediterranean restaurant and be like, woah. Woah. What's up with the lighting here? That's so wild. Okay. Now we're getting into the really technical stuff. So what is this, like, next level lighting wizardry we're talking about? It's actually less complicated than it sounds. We're talking about three point lighting. Okay. Which is basically, like, if you're into film, photography,
[00:03:21] Unknown:
you know, even video calls these days. Right. It's like the gold standard. Got it. Okay. So your key light, your main light source Mhmm. Your fill light. So it's kinda, like, fills in the shadows, evens things out. And then you've got your backlight coming from behind the subject. Okay. And that adds some depth, makes it look less flat. Got it. So, like, you're saying it's you build the lighting. Yeah. It's like a recipe. You've got your ingredients. Okay. I like that. Yeah. And each one has its own purpose.
[00:03:46] Unknown:
Nope. But the backlight thing, that's what keeps things from looking, you know, flat and two dimensional. Makes it look less like, you know, I just stuck a camera in my face. Exactly. It makes the subject pop off the screen. Oh, okay. So that's that's Yeah. Like, you ever notice how some video calls just look? Like Way better. Way better. Yeah. And you're like, what is it about their setup? Like, their TV anchor or something. Exactly. Yeah. I never would have thought about the lighting. Lighting is often yeah. It's the secret sauce. Okay. Well, this is good to know because the source had some tips for video calls, which I thought this was really interesting. Yeah. They said, know your light. And I'm like, okay. Well, what does that mean? Right. Like, literally, how do you know your light? Yeah. But it's like you gotta figure out where are those three points. Yeah. Key light, fill light, backlight. Have them in your head. And and this is what got me don't be afraid to make adjustments. Like Yeah. Move stuff around. Absolutely. Yeah. I never would have thought to do that. It's amazing. Like, if you've got a lamp in your home office Right. Just repositioning it can make a huge difference. Really? Yeah. It's like you're literally controlling how people see you. Yeah. Which is kind of a powerful thing. I know. Okay. See, this is what I'm talking about. My mind is officially blown.
[00:04:59] Unknown:
It's true. So we've gone from, like, spooky movies to my home office setup. Right. Exactly. It's like, it's not just about aesthetics. Is it this lighting? We are sending signals with these lights. We are. We are. Whether we mean to or not, we are. Whether we realize it or not. Yeah. Exactly. Think about it like a grocery store. Oh, yeah. Super bright. Right. Like, they want you to see everything. They want you to see everything. Buy everything. Yeah. Make those products pop. Right. Linger a little longer. Exactly. Or, like, think about a bar. They're probably not using fluorescent lights. No. Totally. It's all mood lighting in there. Right. Creating that atmosphere. Oh, or, like, when you go to those fancy clothing stores and the dressing rooms have those, like, really flattering lights At the warmth. And you're like, oh, I look amazing. That's on purpose. It's totally strategic. It is. It's very strategic. Oh, that is so good. Yeah. Or even, like, think about, like, a waiting room. Okay. Like, a doctor's office versus, say, like, a spa. Oh, yeah. Totally different parts. Totally different. Those lighting choices are, like,
[00:06:02] Unknown:
deliberate.
[00:06:03] Unknown:
It's true. I never thought about it like that. Yeah. To kind of, like, influence how you feel,
[00:06:09] Unknown:
influence your behavior. And these principles apply whether we're talking about, like, a multimillion dollar film set Right. Or your next My next presentation. Oh, speaking of There you go. I've got this presentation next week. And, honestly Yeah. Never even crossed my mind to think about the lighting. Well, now is the time. Okay. Yeah. I guess so. What kind of what kind of presentation is it? What are you going for? It's like a product launch, so I kinda want it to feel, you know, exciting.
[00:06:36] Unknown:
High energy. You want people to be excited about the product? You. Yeah. But, like, still keep the focus on the product itself. Got it. So not too distracting. You want the right kind of Yeah. The balance. So what would you do lighting wise?
[00:06:49] Unknown:
Go a little cooler with the lighting and a little more energetic. Like, those those tech launches you see where they've got With the spotlight. The spotlight on the speaker and the new gadget. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like that kind of dramatic? That's creating focus. Right? Okay. But you can still have warmer light kind of in the background to add some some visual interest and Dimension. Yeah. Dimension. Okay. Well, I'll see. It's all about balance. This is I'm telling you, I've been so focused on what I'm actually saying in my presentations. Content. Yeah. Yeah. Like, the content. The slides. Right. Never even thought about The lighting. Lighting as part of it. It's easy to overlook. Right? Totally. But once you start paying attention,
[00:07:28] Unknown:
you see it everywhere. Everywhere. Even just, like, a conversation Yeah. You know, having a chat with a friend Yeah. A park bench bathed in sunshine, that's gonna feel different than, like,
[00:07:38] Unknown:
a dark corner in a coffee shop. Well, that's so true. You're right. Right. It's not just these, like, big formal things. It's like
[00:07:45] Unknown:
everyday interactions. Everyday life. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. Wow. Next time you meet someone, just take a second. Yeah. Notice the lighting. Okay. Is it warm? Is it inviting? Or does it feel a little cold? Cold, impersonal?
[00:08:00] Unknown:
Yeah. You know, do you wanna stay there? Yeah. Or are you like, okay. Let's move this along. Let's get out of here. Looking around my apartment now, like, what are my lamps saying? That's the fun part. Right? I guess so. Yeah. Once you're aware of it. Right. You can make it work for you. Go. It's like another tool in your toolbox. Like a superpower or something. Kind of. Yeah. Whether it's a video call, a presentation Yeah. Just a chat with a friend. Okay. Little bit of this lighting know how, it goes a long way. Okay. So here's a challenge for everyone listening. Alright.
[00:08:30] Unknown:
What's one small change you can make today, like, right now to use this to your advantage? You know? I like it. Maybe it's your desk lamp. Maybe it's finding a sunny spot for your next meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Or even just noticing the lighting in your next Zoom call. Yeah. I don't know. Little tweaks can make a big difference. Right? Absolutely. They really can. Yeah. Awesome. Well, this has been fascinating. I've learned so much. Me too. It's been a great conversation. Thank you so much for, for illuminating all this for us. No pun intended. You got it. Anytime. And to everyone listening, keep those lights shining bright, and we'll catch you next time on the Deep Dive.
[00:09:13] Martin Kloss:
Hi everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martin klaus dot com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
