klieg light
Bright film illumination
A klieg light is a powerful carbon-arc lamp used in filmmaking and theater, producing intensely bright illumination.
The term often appears figuratively for harsh public scrutiny: Politicians wilt under the klieg lights of a campaign.
Named for the Kliegl brothers who invented it, the spelling klieg has become standard.
Overwhelmingly bright or impressive
- blindingPainfully intense light
- squintPartly close eyes
- halationLight spreading beyond edges
- eye strainTired, aching vision
overexposure · brilliance · searing · piercing · stark · glaring · luminance · high intensity
Concentrated illumination source
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- gafferFilm's chief electrician
- backlightIllumination behind a display
- director of photographyFilm's visual architect
grip · best boy · softbox · diffuser · barn doors · gel · high-key · low-key
Venue for live drama
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- premiereFirst public performance
red carpet · auditorium · proscenium · performance · footlights · marquee · opening night · stage door
State of being unprotected
- public eyeCollective public awareness
- media attentionJournalistic focus on something
- spotlight effectOverestimating others' notice of you
- center stagePosition of maximum attention
fame · celebrity · visibility · notoriety · press coverage
dazzling
Overwhelmingly bright or impressive
eye strain · overexposure · brilliance · searing · piercing · stark · glaring · luminance · high intensity
spotlight
Concentrated illumination source
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- gafferFilm's chief electrician
- backlightIllumination behind a display
director of photography · grip · best boy · softbox · diffuser · barn doors · gel · high-key · low-key · film set
theater
Venue for live drama
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
premiere · red carpet · auditorium · proscenium · performance · footlights · marquee · opening night · stage door · limelight
exposure
State of being unprotected
- public eyeCollective public awareness
- media attentionJournalistic focus on something
- spotlight effectOverestimating others' notice of you
center stage · fame · celebrity · visibility · notoriety · press coverage
- light sourcesflashlight, lamp, candle, sunlight, moonlight
- Lightslamp, lightbulb, bulb, desk lamp, LED bulb
- bright lightssunlight, glare, flash, flare, spotlight
- early cinemakinetoscope, cinematograph, bioscope, silent film, nickelodeon
klieg lightdarkness
Total absence of light
dimness · shadow · blackout · shadows · candlelight
klieg lightambient lighting
Soft indirect room illumination
mood lighting · diffused light · soft light · natural light · indirect lighting
klieg lightobscurity
State of being unknown
anonymity · privacy · hiddenness · shadows · concealment
light, lights, lighted, lighting, lit, lighter, lightest, lighten, lightened