The Digital Video Information Network - View Single Post - XH-A1 by candlelight

Roger Shealy · November 21st, 2008, 09:42 PM

Jack,

Thanks for the input and you could be right depending on the effect you want to achieve. When I started pumping up the wattage, I felt it washed out the effects on the wall, chair, book, and ribbon.

If I continue more testing, I will try a more focused light source of lower wattage, shining through the flame onto the subject. Using the camera light I had to glance the light off of the subject to avoid light reaching the back wall and ruining the candle's effects on the wall and other surroundings. Most of the light was wasted because it was directed between the subject and the lens (leading me to believe I could use a much lower wattage bulb if directed better). What I like about the final selection is the clarity of the face. The other lights were soft and I felt it muted the subject's features too much.

Subjective points aside, I feel that I am able to get a solid low light appearance if I carefully manipulate the light in production and the image in post. There is very little noise in the picture and the blacks are black without me having the manipulate the color curves.

November 21st, 2008, 09:42 PM	#5
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 395	Jack, Thanks for the input and you could be right depending on the effect you want to achieve. When I started pumping up the wattage, I felt it washed out the effects on the wall, chair, book, and ribbon. If I continue more testing, I will try a more focused light source of lower wattage, shining through the flame onto the subject. Using the camera light I had to glance the light off of the subject to avoid light reaching the back wall and ruining the candle's effects on the wall and other surroundings. Most of the light was wasted because it was directed between the subject and the lens (leading me to believe I could use a much lower wattage bulb if directed better). What I like about the final selection is the clarity of the face. The other lights were soft and I felt it muted the subject's features too much. Subjective points aside, I feel that I am able to get a solid low light appearance if I carefully manipulate the light in production and the image in post. There is very little noise in the picture and the blacks are black without me having the manipulate the color curves.