The Digital Video Information Network - View Single Post - Which Kinos for me? - two Foto-Flow 400s (kit) or two Diva-Light 400 kits?

Rush Hamden · April 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM

You're welcome sir. I think in the case of small interiors, a combination of both the Fotoflo's and the Diva's would work better than all instruments being identical. Here is why:

I am assuming that the windows are doing the job of the key here, coming in from one side and creating the f-stop setting. The foto-flos can be used vertically, one in front of each performer as their own fill light. One Diva can come from the opposite and back, to act as kicker, because it is brighter and smaller, it can be placed clean out of the camera's eye. Another Diva can smoothly light the background, with intensity dialed in as needed. A third Diva, maybe a 200, can come directly over camera to create eye-highlights and additional fill, dimmed so as not to make new shadows. There are many more things you can do, but this is just with 5 instruments. Additional Diva's can broaden the scope of the kicker, help round out the daylight to the front of the face while keeping the window in the background, create new spots on the background, etc. More Fotoflo's can create a wall-o-lite effect, tiered to create a 12-lamp source with a 1/2 stop silk on the whole thing. The more fill you have, the broader you can keep it while moving away from the subject and giving her more freedom to move.

In the end, they all work well, and a variety of source-types can create a more interesting visual than 4 of the same, even though that means the bulbs are not interchangeable. The precise dimming of the Diva's is a treat for when you're in a hurry.

April 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM	#5
Rush Hamden Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Burbank, California Posts: 122	You're welcome sir. I think in the case of small interiors, a combination of both the Fotoflo's and the Diva's would work better than all instruments being identical. Here is why: I am assuming that the windows are doing the job of the key here, coming in from one side and creating the f-stop setting. The foto-flos can be used vertically, one in front of each performer as their own fill light. One Diva can come from the opposite and back, to act as kicker, because it is brighter and smaller, it can be placed clean out of the camera's eye. Another Diva can smoothly light the background, with intensity dialed in as needed. A third Diva, maybe a 200, can come directly over camera to create eye-highlights and additional fill, dimmed so as not to make new shadows. There are many more things you can do, but this is just with 5 instruments. Additional Diva's can broaden the scope of the kicker, help round out the daylight to the front of the face while keeping the window in the background, create new spots on the background, etc. More Fotoflo's can create a wall-o-lite effect, tiered to create a 12-lamp source with a 1/2 stop silk on the whole thing. The more fill you have, the broader you can keep it while moving away from the subject and giving her more freedom to move. In the end, they all work well, and a variety of source-types can create a more interesting visual than 4 of the same, even though that means the bulbs are not interchangeable. The precise dimming of the Diva's is a treat for when you're in a hurry. __________________ Want to get more from your hard-earned gear? Digital Cinema Filmmaking Course 24 hours of educational video on 16 DVDs, focused on filmmaking savvy, examples, demonstrations, and tips. Learn Scriptwriting, Formatting, Editing, Camera Operation, Lighting, Exposure, Audio, and Directing.