The Key Light should be positioned 30 to 45 degrees right or left of the camera and usually about 45 degrees vertical above the subject.

• A. 30 to 45 degrees right or left of the camera, at eye level.
• B. Directly in front of the subject at eye level.
• C. 45 degrees vertical above the subject shining down.
• D. 30 to 45 degrees right or left of the camera, usually on the subject's best side, and about 45 degrees vertical above the subject.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how the key light shapes the face. In film lighting, the key light is the primary source that creates dimension and contour, so placing it off to one side of the camera and above the subject gives natural shadows that sculpt facial features. Positioning it around 30 to 45 degrees from the camera keeps the light angled enough to reveal shape without looking flat. Being about 45 degrees above the subject helps control shadows under the brow and nose while avoiding an overly harsh top-down look. Placing the light on the subject’s best side ensures the features are most complimentary.

This option combines both the horizontal offset from the camera and the vertical height, and it adds the practical touch of aiming toward the best side of the face, which is why it’s the most effective choice. The other options miss one or more of these aspects: light at eye level from the front flattens features; direct front placement at eye level also flattens and reduces depth; and having only vertical height with no horizontal offset misses the off-axis direction that creates flattering dimension.