Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Wedding / Event Videography Techniques
Shooting non-repeatable events: weddings, recitals, plays, performances...

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 20th, 2009, 01:16 PM   #1
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception

I'm wanting to mount 2 Comer lights on a stand for weddng reception. Do you guys think this setup will work?

AlienBees: LS3050 10-foot General Purpose Stand

Morris | MTH-203 Umbrella Tilt Head | 32203 | B&H Photo Video

Also, should get some sandbag too?
__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 20th, 2009, 03:56 PM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 184
Absolutely buy some sandbags. You won't always need them, but when there's a chance of someone knocking over your stand...expect it to happen.

As for the stand...the wider the base the better. The one I use is similar and I'm happy with it. I would like the option of going wider though.

As for the dual-shoe adapter...I'm leery. If I'm rigging up anything in the air, I need to screw it in or secure it in some other absolute way so I don't have to worry about it sliding out and crashing down on someone's head. The adapter you pointed us to looks like it doesn't have a hole to screw into, and the Comers with batteries are pretty heavy.

I really like my Comer 1800 by the way, and I think it's size and quality make it a good candidate for a stand-alone reception light.

Alec Moreno
http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com
Alec Moreno is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 20th, 2009, 05:03 PM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
Alec, thanks for the advice and I'm glad to hear the Comer lights work great for you.

I think I'm going to the local Samy's camera store to check out any other alternatives to mount light in a more secure way.

Thanks
__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 23rd, 2009, 10:09 PM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
Finally I figure out a way to mount 2 lights on a light stand in an affordable way =)

Twin Lights On Stand | L.A. Color Blog
Attached Thumbnails
Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception-twinstand1.jpg   Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception-twinstand3.jpg  

Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception-twinstand4.jpg   Light Stand and Dual Light Mount for Wedding Reception-twinstand6.jpg  

__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 24th, 2009, 12:39 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posts: 246
Looks good. Now you only should have a way to remote control it.
BTW: Me I also love my Comer light. Much better then my PAG 6 kit (which is now for sale btw).
__________________
www.cvd-video.nl
Kees van Duijvenbode is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 24th, 2009, 01:41 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philadelphia, pa
Posts: 705
Taky:

This set up is interesting. How will it be used at the reception?
Kevin Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 24th, 2009, 10:43 PM   #7
Trustee
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,498
What is a popular lighting setup for wedding receptions?
Sean Seah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2009, 02:30 PM   #8
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
I have this setup yesterday at a reception. I am so glad I have such setup because the ball room is really dim. The DJ told me the customers want it intimate without much light. I ignored him. I have 4 comer lights all setup in spot light mode. It works very well. Here's the setup

Code:
                          [head table]                              [cake]

         -----------------------------------------------
                                                 [two Comer lights]
                                                                          
                                                                         
                           [Dance Floor]                         


                                                                         
         -----------------------------------------------
       [Cam B]               [Cam A]
When guests spoke, the two lights on stand creates a glow on them while the light on the camera lits their front evenly. Also, during the first dance and father-daughter dance, I circle them with my stedicam. The video looks awesome with the lens flare.

There isn't any light at the cake table. When they cut the cake, I turn around the twin lights to the cake table that creates a focal point (since it's dark everywhere else). After that, the bride and groom gave a speech there. The spotlight mode on the Comer lights work really well for that.

Consider the days before in such situation, I have to crank up the gain to 3db or 6db on my Canon XH-A1. Now I work in -3db and 0db only. The video is clean and grain free.

I will post some videos later on.
__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2009, 03:13 PM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philadelphia, pa
Posts: 705
I'm looking forward to seeing the footage.
Kevin Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 11:08 AM   #10
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,505
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taky Cheung View Post
I have this setup yesterday at a reception. I am so glad I have such setup because the ball room is really dim. The DJ told me the customers want it intimate without much light. I ignored him. I have 4 comer lights all setup in spot light mode. It works very well. Here's the setup

Code:
                          [head table]                              [cake]

         -----------------------------------------------
                                                 [two Comer lights]
                                                                          
                                                                         
                           [Dance Floor]                         


                                                                         
         -----------------------------------------------
       [Cam B]               [Cam A]
When guests spoke, the two lights on stand creates a glow on them while the light on the camera lits their front evenly. Also, during the first dance and father-daughter dance, I circle them with my stedicam. The video looks awesome with the lens flare.

There isn't any light at the cake table. When they cut the cake, I turn around the twin lights to the cake table that creates a focal point (since it's dark everywhere else). After that, the bride and groom gave a speech there. The spotlight mode on the Comer lights work really well for that.

Consider the days before in such situation, I have to crank up the gain to 3db or 6db on my Canon XH-A1. Now I work in -3db and 0db only. The video is clean and grain free.

I will post some videos later on.
Taky how are you controlling the light?
Since I gather you are able to use a dimmer or remote control with the Comer lights, are you leaving the lights run continuously or do you have to lower the light stand and turn off the lights when not in use?

The ONLY reason I have not used the Comer lights for off camera use is that I am not able to control them remotely. If I could, I would buy 2-3 more lights in a heartbeat and use them with the 2 that I already have.

I currently use 2 off camera lights on 11-13 foot stands, but they are powered by large Bescor battery belts at the base, and I light in a similar manner that you did. 2 lights on the dance floor, or 1 on the cake and 1 on the crowd, speech giver etc. All off camera lighting is remote controlled to power on/off when needed.
The two Comer lights are used on 2 reception cameras.

I would love to remote control the Comer lights as carrying along 40 lbs. of battery is a pain in the butt for shoots.
It's worth it, but still a pain to haul.
__________________
Michael
www.lvpvideo.com
Michael Liebergot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 11:31 AM   #11
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
Michael, I see your point about the remote control. Luckily I am 6'3" with a long arm. It's not a big issue for me. But the important point is, the F970 battery can power the light for about 3 hours. So I just leave them on the whole time. It's enough for most duration of reception. If I have to lower the light to change battery, it'll be just once per night. It's not a big concern.
__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 11:43 AM   #12
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 2,114
Michael, I'm also thinking, it wouldn't be so bad to have the 40 pound battery on the light stand. In that case you don't have to put any sand bag at the base. Is that right?
__________________
LA Color Pros Blog
RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator
Taky Cheung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 03:41 PM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 446
What kind of throw do you get out of the Comers? We use 1 Arri 650 with barn doors and a steel light stand.
__________________
John J. Moon
www.northernlightfilmworks.com - Event DV Top 25 Recipient
John Moon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 04:36 PM   #14
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 154
I use two of these remote controled units:
The Wireless Wedding Reception Video Light - HOME

You can build them yourself as well for much less.
Tom Sessions is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 2nd, 2009, 03:42 PM   #15
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,505
Tom I built 2 Reception Lights myself and had Darryl make me a couple of remotes for it.

The problem with using a remote for a light such as the Comers is that they are self powered so the remotes are made to go in between XLR power sources. So the current is turned on/cut off when the remote is operated.

This type of remote won't work with self powers (battery) units, like the Comer1800, Sony HVL-LBP etc.

The units wold have to be setup with remote terminals in the lights themselves, or something like that. I have been trying to see if I could rig up a battery sled that would take Sony NP batteries and run them between the battery sled and the light. Then use the Reception light remotes in between the battery sled and the Comer180 light. I would ahve to find an XLR to D-Tap cable to connect the ReceptionLight remote XLR cable to the Comer180 though.
__________________
Michael
www.lvpvideo.com
Michael Liebergot 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 > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:39 PM.


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