Shooting under black lights at DVinfo.net

Barry Edmundson · March 31st, 2012, 01:34 PM

Our church as a puppet team that preforms with black lights. The video looks terrible. How can I set up my Canon GL2 where it will video in this enviroment? Shound I buy any extra equipment?

Martin Catt · March 31st, 2012, 04:50 PM

Consider that if they're the old tube-style black lights, they're probably flickering on and off 120 times a second. You're probably locked to shooting at 1/60th of a sec shutter speed -- anything else will give a noticeable flickering or strobing as the camera shutter moves in and out of phase with the flicker.

You said the video "looks terrible." HOW does it look terrible? We need to know the symptoms before we can suggest a cure.

IF it's the shutter-speed issue I suggested, staying at some multiple of 1/30th of a second should take care of the issue. If that isn't possible, then I'd suggest either converting the blacklight fixtures to a solid-state ballast ( which USUALLY runs at a higher frequency "flicker" rate than the old magnetic ballasts), or try converting to the compact florescent blacklight corkscrew bulbs.

Martin

Allan Black · April 1st, 2012, 01:47 AM

Black lighting eh, is it necessary for the show?

Wonder how the audiences like that, maybe suggest a performance for just for you with 'normal' lighting. You could try 'blackening it' in post,
but work on that effect first.

Cheers.

March 31st, 2012, 01:34 PM	#1
Barry Edmundson Tourist Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Alma, Georgia Posts: 4	Shooting under black lights Our church as a puppet team that preforms with black lights. The video looks terrible. How can I set up my Canon GL2 where it will video in this enviroment? Shound I buy any extra equipment?

March 31st, 2012, 04:50 PM	#2
Martin Catt Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Colony TX Posts: 327	Re: Shooting under black lights Consider that if they're the old tube-style black lights, they're probably flickering on and off 120 times a second. You're probably locked to shooting at 1/60th of a sec shutter speed -- anything else will give a noticeable flickering or strobing as the camera shutter moves in and out of phase with the flicker. You said the video "looks terrible." HOW does it look terrible? We need to know the symptoms before we can suggest a cure. IF it's the shutter-speed issue I suggested, staying at some multiple of 1/30th of a second should take care of the issue. If that isn't possible, then I'd suggest either converting the blacklight fixtures to a solid-state ballast ( which USUALLY runs at a higher frequency "flicker" rate than the old magnetic ballasts), or try converting to the compact florescent blacklight corkscrew bulbs. 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

April 1st, 2012, 01:47 AM	#3
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: Shooting under black lights Black lighting eh, is it necessary for the show? Wonder how the audiences like that, maybe suggest a performance for just for you with 'normal' lighting. You could try 'blackening it' in post, but work on that effect first. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.