Inexpensive Lowell Lighting for Interview Shoot? 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 September 15th, 2009, 01:50 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Gatos, California
Posts: 109
Inexpensive Lowell Lighting for Interview Shoot?

Hi all,

I have a gig next month where instead of renting lighting I'm going to try and buy some very inexpensive lights, such as the Lowells recommended by Guy Cochran:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy Cochran View Post
If you're trying to do this on the super low budget and lighting people, I'd get a couple of Lowel fluorescent bulbs that screw into standard household sockets. These are color accurate - make that highly color accurate bulbs that go for around $30 ea. The model is the Lowel X1-65
Use one for your Key light, and one for your Fill light. Get a desklamp that can be tungsten and provide a warmer look, use that one as your backlight.
Google for some cinefoil aka blackwrap and you can block the light if its going everywhere and you want it to go in one direction. Here's a video or that might help understanding what and where to place the key, fill and backlights:

YouTube - 3 point lighting technique
Lighting Infinite White on Vimeo

The Infinite white video shows lighting white, however the same could apply to green, but you'll need to get your talent back.

One more resource is the Lowel Edu website. These is a cool Flash movie that allows you to turn the lights on and off and see their effect. Lowel EDU - a Lighting Resource Center

Here is an example video I just shot that is lit using those same Lowel X1-65 bulbs. I've got a few of them on standard track lighting from home depot and a set in a Rifa 66 YouTube - Our new HD Studio - how we do it.

Hope this helps,
In the same thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/photon-m...-lighting.html Jack Walker said "You can get flood reflectors with a standard base for a few dollars at Home Depot or a photo store. Put the Lowel flourescents in these." Is this what I'm looking for? http://www.rickleephoto.com/artcopying/lamp.jpg

I have 2 mic stands that I should be able to clamp those on to. Also, I saw this video about a $7 flex fill, any thoughts? http://revver.com/video/435831/poor-mans-flex-fill

Does that mean that theoretically I can get away with 1 Lowell light, the inexpensive flexfill substitute and the tungsten back light? Is the tungsten even necessary, and if so what would you recommend?

Here are a couple examples of the kind of videos I'll be shooting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsq6UdpqPII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtpYnVbYN8

Thanks!
David Horwitz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 15th, 2009, 05:07 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
I'm all for doing lighting on the cheap, and I certainly have some of these flood lamps. But honestly, you'd be better off going with a small kit. The more you can control the environment you shoot in, the less lights you will need. If you cannot control where you will be shooting, the more lights (and grip) you'll need.

I've done lighting setups with 2 stands, 1 light, and a piece of foamcore. Not the easiest way to shoot, but it works if you have strict control.

I would advise you to be careful with using silver shinyboard. Get it wrong and you'll blind the talent. And they will NOT be happy. I prefer using a butterfly to soften the direct sunlight, than trying to fill on the side away from the sun. And the talent is always appreciative of you taking them out of the direct sun.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.
Perrone Ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 15th, 2009, 06:47 PM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Gatos, California
Posts: 109
Hi Perrone,

Thanks for the tip, but I really can't afford to buy a kit right now. I think I'll buy 2 Lowells, the flood reflectors and maybe a tungsten for the back. How necessary is the tungsten backlight? And if I have to get one, should I get a desk lamp like Guy mentioned, or will the tungsten work with another flood reflector?

This shoot will be indoors at a hotel, so it should be fine, but I will want to have these lights to make sure everything goes well. I think it will be pretty much like the example videos I posted, but I want to make the lighting better than what's in those videos.
David Horwitz 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 06:56 AM.


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