Klieg lamp

A Klieg lamp is a powerful carbon arc lamp originally used in the film industry for lighting during filming. The lamp is named after the brothers John and Anton Kliegl , who developed this technology. citeturn0search0

Features of the Klieg lamp:

  • Light Source: Uses a carbon arc, where two carbon rods create an electric arc that produces an intense light.

  • Lens: Often equipped with a Fresnel lens and a spherical reflector to focus and direct the light.

  • Use: Used to illuminate scenes both indoors and outdoors, and allowed night scenes to be shot as if it were day.

The intense brightness of Klieg lamps allowed filmmakers to work effectively under a variety of lighting conditions. However, the strong ultraviolet radiation these lamps produced sometimes led to eye inflammation in actors, a condition that became known as "Klieg eye."

With the advent of new lighting methods, such as larger incandescent bulbs, the use of Klieg lamps declined. Nevertheless, the term "Klieg lamp" remains an iconic concept in film and theater.