Getting started with lights, I could do with some help. at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management

Photon Management
Shine an ever-loving light on you.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 16th, 2009, 04:53 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Gloucester, UK
Posts: 34
Getting started with lights, I could do with some help.

OK, so I'm somewhat new to this and I'm trying to read posts to get ideas on what I should be using but I am totally lost.

I am breaking it down by scene. The first thing I need to shoot is a home gym. I have an idea about how I'm going to achieve this.

Black out the window.
Two lights right in front of the window (one with a 'blinds' gobo effect).
One, soft, fill light (probably a reflector actually) on the face.

Would that work? What kind of lights would be best for that.

My initial idea was to buy a set of three lights with umbrellas/soft boxes/gels etc. Now I am thinking that this won't be good enough as I also have to shoot the following locations.

Kitchen (day)
Warehouse (night)
Club (night)
Office (day)
Cellar (day)
Supermarket (night)
Street (night)
Car (day)

We are shooting in November in the UK (so it's likely to be overcast) and we were going to use day for night for the street scenes at night. The club is worrying me though, and the cellar and car (although I have got some good pointers from another thread and the car won't be moving).

Any and all advice is welcomed.
Steve Mellor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 18th, 2009, 02:10 PM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Purcellville, VA
Posts: 55
Lights dependent

The range of situations you indicate is, at least potentially, enormous in its requirements, depending on how much you will need to light and to what effect. for example, shooting in a warehouse could mean using existing practicals supplemented by local additions; vast lighting to fill the place with adequate light for, say, a medium aperture, or a very small kit to light small places within the warehouse. The budget for the lighting could run from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.

In short, more information, please.
Philip Ulanowsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 19th, 2009, 01:54 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London, UK
Posts: 795
You are trying to do so much with so little experience or knowledge. In your shoes I would try to find someone with lighting skills to help out.
__________________
http://www.gooderick.com
Richard Gooderick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 19th, 2009, 07:24 AM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada
Posts: 4,088
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Mellor View Post
One, soft, fill light (probably a reflector actually) on the face.
One light on the most important thing in the scene? Assuming you aren't also getting light from your "window side" light(s) on your subject, ICK!

Your subject is ALWAYS the most important thing in the scene and should be lit accordingly. Background and effects lights should come AFTER the fact, using what you have left.

This is the same as those "hot rodders" that put a brand new paint job with flames et al over top of a rusted out car body. Take care of the "meat and potatoes" first, then go for the "gravy".
__________________
Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster
www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/
Shaun Roemich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 21st, 2009, 11:35 AM   #5
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 4,449
This is not a good project to learn about lighting from scratch. I agree with that second post--you should find somebody with experience. Take him to all the locations, then he can rent whatever you need for the specific location.
Bill Pryor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 27th, 2009, 12:54 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 186
There's a way to shoot with enough lights, and a way to do it with no money. If you don't have money for more lights shoot with available light, use home made reflectors, correction gels on existing lights, flashlights for background elements... I'm sure you can find many great tips in this forum. Rule of thumb with minimal lights... go for the subject and then separate them from the background. More isn't necessarily always better.
Max Allen is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:14 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network