Do I have the "gist" of buying lights correct? at DVinfo.net

Arif Syed · February 11th, 2010, 10:13 PM

The physical light itself is the same for the key, fill, back...but it is fitted with different accessories and the intensity of the bulb is lowered/increased?

As you can see I am lost when it comes to lighting...I am predominantly a outdoors and natural light shooter. If I ever need lights in the past I had a basic on camera setup. However, I am gearing up to shoot a video in front of a white backdrop and don't know exactly what to purchase (or rent in my case).

Perrone Ford · February 11th, 2010, 10:17 PM

This should help:

Lowel EDU - a Lighting Resource Center

Go through the foundations and then the lessons. When you finish that, you'll know enough about lights to feel very comfortable buying, renting, and arranging your setups for most kinds of shots.

Marty Welk · February 11th, 2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arif Syed

I am gearing up to shoot a video in front of a white backdrop and don't know exactly what to purchase (or rent in my case).

a grey backdrop :-)
you know many "white" things on video that we see are not nessisarily Stark 100% white, the movie and video people will use an 80% white as white, so it doesnt blow out everything else.
i cant think of anything i would less want to have as a backdrop , but if White is the need, and it is toned down a bit with either the lighting or the backdrop itself (better) then you will get your stark white still, without having a Fight White on your hands that the video camera cant deal with due to its limited contrast range.

Arif Syed · February 11th, 2010, 11:06 PM

Wouldn't I want to light the backdrop more than the subject to get it to be as white as possible with no sight of imperfections?

Marty Welk · February 11th, 2010, 11:18 PM

surely you can test this in 2 seconds with ANY video camera or even a digital still camera, just hang up a white sheet, and put someone in front of it, then take a shot, you will observe what happens so fast, you wont need to ask.

February 11th, 2010, 10:13 PM	#1
Arif Syed Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elmont, New York Posts: 143	Do I have the "gist" of buying lights correct? The physical light itself is the same for the key, fill, back...but it is fitted with different accessories and the intensity of the bulb is lowered/increased? As you can see I am lost when it comes to lighting...I am predominantly a outdoors and natural light shooter. If I ever need lights in the past I had a basic on camera setup. However, I am gearing up to shoot a video in front of a white backdrop and don't know exactly what to purchase (or rent in my case).

February 11th, 2010, 10:17 PM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	This should help: Lowel EDU - a Lighting Resource Center Go through the foundations and then the lessons. When you finish that, you'll know enough about lights to feel very comfortable buying, renting, and arranging your setups for most kinds of shots. __________________ 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.

February 11th, 2010, 11:18 PM	#5
Marty Welk Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Bay Cali Posts: 563	surely you can test this in 2 seconds with ANY video camera or even a digital still camera, just hang up a white sheet, and put someone in front of it, then take a shot, you will observe what happens so fast, you wont need to ask. __________________ ----------------sig----------------- Re-learning everything all over again, one more time.

February 11th, 2010, 11:06 PM	#4
Arif Syed Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elmont, New York Posts: 143	Wouldn't I want to light the backdrop more than the subject to get it to be as white as possible with no sight of imperfections?