Lighting plays a big role in this music video, since the name of the song is ‘lights’. From 0:00 to 0:08 there are a variety of different lighting effects shown, these include colourful spot lights to multiple flashing small lights. These create a sense of confusion for the audience as it is unclear as to what is actually going on and where the location is, therefore immediately creating diversion from the audiences ordinary lives. (uses and gratifications theory) The use of different colour lights makes Ellie seem youthful and exciting, making the audience connect with her since her target audience is around 15-30 year olds. This is making Ellie both ordinary and extraordinary since the audience have never been in their own music video but feel they are the same age as Ellie and can relate to her energetic and hardworking lifestyle. The costume of Ellie Goulding is unlcear at the beginning but it is obvious she is in a short dress and has blonde hair, attracting the male gaze. This attracts both males and females as females will want to be like Ellie Goulding or may already feel they are like her as they are of a similar age. However the fact she is surrounded by lights shows she is untouchable and the will never be just like her. 

The lights at the beginning of the music video, seem to flicker or shine along with the slow paced keyboard noise, which synchronizes the music video and song together straight away making it seem well made and professional. The spotlights represent the sounds we are hearing before any lyrics are sung, the builds up suspense along with the keyboard effects and makes the music video seem futuristic and new, therefore implying that Ellie is exciting and that the video and lyrics will be amplified throughout the video with the use of the lights and Ellie her self. As the sound effects get faster paced we see Ellie begin to appear once again building up the suspense of seeing Ellie in the video and making it seem more exciting than it actually is. The sound effects also get slightly louder, therefore allowing the audience to suspect that something new is going to happen, encouraging them to get ready for something good. The pace of the editing slows down around 0:04 showing that the lyrics are going to be sung soon and as Ellie appears this shows that this will be happening also, this does not match the sound as it gets slowly faster and louder therefore mix matching and making it seem edgy and cool, instead of constantly professional, therefore attracting a younger audience.

A super imposition is used at 0:03, with an over lay/fade of the multiple lights and Ellie Goulding in the background, fading in and out. This hints to the audience that Ellie is in the video and sexualises her as an outline of her body is seen, showing Dyer’s theory of sexual magnetism is incorporated to engage males to watch the video, (also male gaze theory) The use of the fade makes the video seem foreign to us as it is unnatural and something that is not seen in day to day life, therefore showing the audience it is something difference and original that they have not seen before, causing them to be happy and thrilled by what they are about to see. The super imposition shows that Ellie is important, however the lights are also important. The editing is fast paced at the beginning with the lights changing fast, conveying to the audience that the video will be fun and edgy, however around 0:04 the editing becomes slower paced as the fades begin to appear and this therefore conveys to the audience that the lyrics will begin soon. The slow fade at 0:06 portrays Ellie Goulding as something of importance, therefore making the audience feel eager to see what she will do next. 

The music video begins with an establishing shot with the flickering of the lights, this then gives the audience an idea of what the video will be like throughout, this encourages the audience to continue watching as lights is all that they can see, making them wonder if Ellie Goulding will appear in the video. The long/wide angle shot shows Ellie in the centre of the video, the makes her the centre of attention, and also shows that all that is around her is lights, therefore ensuring the audience that Ellie is in fact in the video. A long shot connotes space and emptiness, reverting back to the fact the song is about Ellie’s fear of the dark. However the lights fill the emptiness showing Ellie is figuratively not alone. At around 0:05 a mid shot of Ellie is seen briefly, this shows we are getting closer to Ellie, making the audience feel excited, nevertheless they will not be able to reach her as she is in a music video, however by gradually getting closer it gives the audience the feeling that they can reach her. The low angle shot at 0:07 makes Ellie seem bigger and better than everyone else as the audience are looking up to her, showing she is powerful.