Varying light levels at DVinfo.net

G. Lee Gordon · December 28th, 2011, 09:40 PM

My question to you good people is if you have two subjects equally valuable to a shot; where you start is much brighter than where you finish, how do you accomplish that?

Charles Papert · December 28th, 2011, 11:55 PM

Can you rephrase that and be more specific? The more so, the better.

Ken Hull · January 9th, 2012, 07:51 PM

Lee,
I'm assuming you mean that you're doing a pan shot, starting on subject A, and ending on subject B. If subject A is lit much brighter than subject B, then you might want to adjust the iris opening as you pan. Kind of like having a camera assistant pull focus, although this would be "pulling iris", if there is such a term. ;-)

- Ken

P.S. -- Also, you might want to investigate graduated neutral density filters. With a little ingenuity, you might be able to make use of those.

Charles Papert · January 9th, 2012, 10:39 PM

Yes, pulling iris is indeed a term. If done carefully, it can be done invisibly. I recently shot a scene that brought some characters from broad sunlight into a large interior in one long take, and even though I lit the interior as much as possible, I still had to perform an 8 stop iris pull (the entire range of the lens) over a five second interval, and it's pretty well hidden.

However, under controlled circumstances, it's better to adjust the lighting to avoid having to pull iris if possible.

Ken Diewert · January 9th, 2012, 11:17 PM

Funny, I was just having a conversation with a friend who shot one of the earlier space shuttles launches on 16mm film for our national Canadian broadcaster. He had to 'pull iris' as the rockets fired at lift-off. He said he had to guess but nailed it. Not much chance of a re-shoot or yelling 'cut' on that one.

Alex Payne · January 30th, 2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Yes, pulling iris is indeed a term. If done carefully, it can be done invisibly. I recently shot a scene that brought some characters from broad sunlight into a large interior in one long take, and even though I lit the interior as much as possible, I still had to perform an 8 stop iris pull (the entire range of the lens) over a five second interval, and it's pretty well hidden.

However, under controlled circumstances, it's better to adjust the lighting to avoid having to pull iris if possible.

i'd like to see that. you have clips? I've always wondered how "invisible" it can really be, love to see a good example.

Charles Papert · January 31st, 2012, 12:16 AM

Hi Alex:

That example will air within the next four or five weeks--it was one of the sketches on "Key & Peele". I'll try to remember to post about it if I know which episode it will be on.

That one is more visible (if you look for it) because most of the pull occurred while the camera was backing through a doorway, so you can see the exterior "heat up" outside. A much more invisible type of pull can be done while the camera is panning with actors around a corner, for instance.

Charles Papert · March 31st, 2012, 12:58 PM

OK! Finally this clip showed up online.

https://vimeo.com/channels/311011/39112696

Iris pull is around :29 to :34, from T16 to T1.4.

Martin Catt · March 31st, 2012, 05:31 PM

Lee:

Depending on your camera, you could always set it to Tv, pick your shutter speed, and let the camera take care of the aperture. I don't --LIKE-- doing that, but there are some times you have to pick the lesser of the assorted evils.

Using Tv assumes you're using a lens that interfaces with the camera's electronics. As you know, I shoot on the 5DM2 using a lot of Nikon primes, so I'm pretty much locked to doing things manually, which I'm more comfortable with anyhow. However, I have no qualms about mounting one of my EF "L" lenses, picking the focal length, and letting the exposure automation handle things --IF-- that's the only or best way to get the shot.

In the end, the audience REALLY doesn't care how you did it, as long as it looks good.

Martin

Ken Hull · March 31st, 2012, 10:02 PM

Charles,
I got a "page not found" when I tried your link.
Ken

Charles Papert · March 31st, 2012, 10:34 PM

Huh. It works for me, even when I log out of Vimeo. Anyone else try it, successfully or not?

Warren Kawamoto · March 31st, 2012, 11:59 PM

Charles, I also got a "page not found." on your video. I'm logged in.

Allan Black · April 1st, 2012, 01:22 AM

Not logged in, 'page not found'. I'd like to see it too thanks Charles.

Cheers.

Charles Papert · April 1st, 2012, 11:58 AM

OK, try this.

Allan Black · April 1st, 2012, 10:59 PM

Thanks Charles .. whoooa! another masterclass. I watched it 1/2 dozen times to pick up all the bits, gets better each time .... just the framing, man!

Can I ask, if you pulled iris then a close buddy pulled focus?

Cheers.

December 28th, 2011, 09:40 PM	#1
G. Lee Gordon Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 431	Varying light levels My question to you good people is if you have two subjects equally valuable to a shot; where you start is much brighter than where you finish, how do you accomplish that? __________________ "Get Er Done!!!"

December 28th, 2011, 11:55 PM	#2
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels Can you rephrase that and be more specific? The more so, the better. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 9th, 2012, 07:51 PM	#3
Ken Hull Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 240	Re: Varying light levels Lee, I'm assuming you mean that you're doing a pan shot, starting on subject A, and ending on subject B. If subject A is lit much brighter than subject B, then you might want to adjust the iris opening as you pan. Kind of like having a camera assistant pull focus, although this would be "pulling iris", if there is such a term. ;-) - Ken P.S. -- Also, you might want to investigate graduated neutral density filters. With a little ingenuity, you might be able to make use of those.

January 9th, 2012, 10:39 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels Yes, pulling iris is indeed a term. If done carefully, it can be done invisibly. I recently shot a scene that brought some characters from broad sunlight into a large interior in one long take, and even though I lit the interior as much as possible, I still had to perform an 8 stop iris pull (the entire range of the lens) over a five second interval, and it's pretty well hidden. However, under controlled circumstances, it's better to adjust the lighting to avoid having to pull iris if possible. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 9th, 2012, 11:17 PM	#5
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Re: Varying light levels Funny, I was just having a conversation with a friend who shot one of the earlier space shuttles launches on 16mm film for our national Canadian broadcaster. He had to 'pull iris' as the rockets fired at lift-off. He said he had to guess but nailed it. Not much chance of a re-shoot or yelling 'cut' on that one. __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

January 31st, 2012, 12:16 AM	#7
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels Hi Alex: That example will air within the next four or five weeks--it was one of the sketches on "Key & Peele". I'll try to remember to post about it if I know which episode it will be on. That one is more visible (if you look for it) because most of the pull occurred while the camera was backing through a doorway, so you can see the exterior "heat up" outside. A much more invisible type of pull can be done while the camera is panning with actors around a corner, for instance. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 31st, 2012, 12:58 PM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels OK! Finally this clip showed up online. https://vimeo.com/channels/311011/39112696 Iris pull is around :29 to :34, from T16 to T1.4. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 31st, 2012, 05:31 PM	#9
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Re: Varying light levels Lee: Depending on your camera, you could always set it to Tv, pick your shutter speed, and let the camera take care of the aperture. I don't --LIKE-- doing that, but there are some times you have to pick the lesser of the assorted evils. Using Tv assumes you're using a lens that interfaces with the camera's electronics. As you know, I shoot on the 5DM2 using a lot of Nikon primes, so I'm pretty much locked to doing things manually, which I'm more comfortable with anyhow. However, I have no qualms about mounting one of my EF "L" lenses, picking the focal length, and letting the exposure automation handle things --IF-- that's the only or best way to get the shot. In the end, the audience REALLY doesn't care how you did it, as long as it looks good. Martin __________________ Canon XF300, Canon 5DMkII, Canon XL2, Rolls MX422 mixer, Zoom H4N, AT899 lavs, AT2020's, Azden SGM 1X shotgun, Manfrotto 501 head on 351 tripod

March 31st, 2012, 10:02 PM	#10
Ken Hull Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 240	Re: Varying light levels Charles, I got a "page not found" when I tried your link. Ken

March 31st, 2012, 10:34 PM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels Huh. It works for me, even when I log out of Vimeo. Anyone else try it, successfully or not? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 31st, 2012, 11:59 PM	#12
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: Varying light levels Charles, I also got a "page not found." on your video. I'm logged in.

April 1st, 2012, 01:22 AM	#13
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: Varying light levels Not logged in, 'page not found'. I'd like to see it too thanks Charles. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 1st, 2012, 11:58 AM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Varying light levels OK, try this. Tea Party Sweetheart on Vimeo __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

April 1st, 2012, 10:59 PM	#15
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: Varying light levels Thanks Charles .. whoooa! another masterclass. I watched it 1/2 dozen times to pick up all the bits, gets better each time .... just the framing, man! Can I ask, if you pulled iris then a close buddy pulled focus? Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.