How to Set up your Webcam for an Online Debate (Advanced Lighting Guide)
This article is a continuation of our series on tips for online debate tournaments. If you haven’t already, read the previous parts here:
We’re delighted to see that others are hosting online tournaments. The more the merrier!
If you’re competing at a tournament that uses webcams, you have a lot to consider.
Use your Webcam
Expect the judge to watch the webcams constantly. If your opponent’s video is on and yours isn’t, you’re at a disadvantage. The judge will think about you less and get less information from you. If at all possible, stay competitive by turning your video on.
Your opponent is likely to ignore the considerations in this article and simply turn on the webcam from wherever they normally use their laptop. This is a mistake. The quality of your video will make a difference. If you have a well-lit image with a good angle and a professional background, you’ll have a big competitive edge.
Decorate your Set
Your background should be professional and non-distracting. Clean it thoroughly beforehand.
Favorable options:
A floor-to-ceiling curtain with a single color
A plain white wall
A large map
A bookshelf
Unfavorable options:
A room full of furniture
A window
A busy pattern
An aquarium
Your little sister making funny faces
4-Point Light your Scene
You can get a great looking image with just a few well-placed sources. Don’t be intimidated! Learning basic lighting is a useful skill and you’ll get the hang of it in an afternoon. Best of all, it’ll give you an edge against opponents who didn’t light properly.
Here’s everything you need to know about 4-point lighting:
Key light. The main light for your face. Many lights cast harsh shadows. Use lampshades or sheets to disperse the light, or shine the light on a nearby wall and bounce it back to you. This is the only light you absolutely need.
Fill light. Use a small light on the opposite side from your key light to soften shadows on your face. This is crucial if you’re debating close to sunrise or sunset.
Background light. If your background is far away from you, or if your other lights are casting distracting shadows, it’s time for a third light. Use a soft diffused lamp, like the one next to your couch, and put it close to the background. You can probably put it directly behind you on the floor and let your body hide it from the camera.
Back light. If you’re blending into the background, shine a light from a high angle onto your back. This will create a bright edge around your silhouette, separating you from the background. You can make a simple back light by putting a flashlight on a bookshelf just outside the shot. With back lights, less is more. Too much will take you from “looking great” to “looking like an angel in a 90s TV show.”
Match colors. Lights of different colors look odd on camera. Don’t mix white and yellow. If you’re taking advantage of natural daylight, use reflective surfaces like whiteboards and mirrors to bounce the light instead of using a separate lamp.
Getting your lighting right takes time, but it will make a difference. Make sure you test your setup beforehand. Give yourself at least a half hour before the round to get everything ready. Remember that your lighting needs change depending on the time of day.
Sometimes, the natural sunlight coming into your kitchen is all you need. Don’t overthink the lighting. If it looks great on camera, you’re ready.
Set the Camera at Eye Level
If you’re using a laptop webcam at a table, you’re probably looking slightly down at it. This makes the judge feel like they’re being talked down to. The effect isn’t a problem in a live round when they have the full context – you’re further away, you’re standing, they’re sitting. But online, your face is close to theirs. A downward angle feels wrong.
Looking up is also problematic; it lowers your status and suggests that you are pleading with the judge.
The perfect angle is at eye level, with your shoulders filling about half of the screen. The simplest way to create this effect is to put your laptop on a stack of books. If you have to back the camera away more than 18 inches, use a separate microphone so the judge can still hear you clearly.
In the final article in this series, we’ll offer tips for delivering a great performance on a webcam.