And we moan about the DJ's LED lights... 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 September 21st, 2014, 04:39 AM   #1
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK/Yorkshire
Posts: 2,069
And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

...Well I just filmed in a reception venue (funily enough called 'the venue') that was a huge room that encompassed the bar, a stage, and meal seating for easily 200 people and was lit entirely with large banks of horrible magenta and blue LED lights - a true nightmare to white balance as also dotted around were LED downlights that blasted hideous pools of coloured light onto the tables. For the speeches at least my footage is underexposed, deliberately as any over exposure resulted a highlighted area of whatever colour happened to be on at that moment.

What goes through the minds of the people that rig these lights? What's wrong with trying to preserve a natural skin tone?

And then in the evening the lights stayed on but were joined by crazy lasers and swooping searchlights - it was a toughie for exposure and focus!!!

Pete
Peter Rush is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 21st, 2014, 06:01 AM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 8,441
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

Hi Pete

Last night I had a myriad of bright coloured dots (the size of a football actually) all over the walls and guests. Your exposure, of course goes up and down like a yoyo! The yellow ones are over bright and the dark green ones almost have no lumen value in comparison.

No use at all complaining ..the DJ is doing his job and competing with the other DJ's and, as they are nowdays just "tune players" their only ace card is to go overboard with the lighting! I also had lasers last weekend ... I always make sure I'm out of the line of fire ..I reckon that could easily destroy a sensor if it hit the lens directly.

You do realise that all your comments are falling on deaf ears with DJ's so just basically tell the bride " Don't blame me, blame the DJ"

Chris
Chris Harding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 21st, 2014, 08:36 AM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK/Yorkshire
Posts: 2,069
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

It wasn't the DJ Chris - the venue used pretty much exclusively LED lighting for the whole room.
Peter Rush is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 21st, 2014, 10:43 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 504
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

It is what it is. I just shoot without worrying about what is given. Hey, if the bride was shown the venue beforehand, I am sure she was given the inspection tour when she signed, lights and all. And she most likely said "WOW, that is so cool". She asked for it.
Venues are always trying to outdo each other in terms of the "look" this LED ambience thing is really going too far. Venues are struggling to get clients in so they must "look" better than their rivals. Just last year I was doing a wedding in a venue I haven't been at 2 years earlier. The bride and groom is introduced from a rising elevator from the floor below directly in the center of the dance floor. There was a huge laser show and bright spotlights supplied by the venue. Now this is also exasperated by the DJ's own laser and light show as well as his dual fog machines that engulf the entire area. They want that "in the cloud look". All I got in the opening dance was white smoke and star wars lasers. That was an Italian wedding in an Italian venue. And the place was dark as hell the entire night. Just so that the DJ looks good.
Arthur Gannis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 21st, 2014, 06:17 PM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 8,441
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

Thanks Pete

Yeah I have had a few venues with much the same and you struggle to shoot in it. As Arthur says, the bride chose the venue and she thinks it's cool so we just have to shoot in the conditions and keep quiet.

At least we can have a bit of a moan here and vent a little!!

Chris
Chris Harding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 21st, 2014, 08:10 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 504
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

Sometimes I get the feeling that the DJ convinces the bride to keep the lighting as dark and low as possible so his light show will really stand out. This was discussed recently with a wedding I did earlier this year where I went to the Matire D and asked him politely to raise up the venue lighting up a notch, not really that much but just enough so that people can see what's on their plate. The Maitre D replied that the bride went over his lighting scheme levels and could not do anything about it, "discuss it with the bride" he said. "if she OK's it, then that's fine". I has a very brief discussion with her and the result was negative. When she got the video, she did not complain a bit of the graininess. Before she left I asked her " how come you desired a very dark atmosphere. She said the DJ highly advised it for HIS effects. This scenario happens often enough that I don't bother or get frustrated anymore.
Arthur Gannis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2014, 01:26 AM   #7
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK/Yorkshire
Posts: 2,069
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

Yes it is what it is and we just deal with it but I find that environments lit by LED lights difficult to expose for properly - to the eye it can seem fairly bright but the camera sees it differently - over exposing makes it ten times worse so I deliberately under expose a little - I find even zebras struggle to be accurate in that situation!
Peter Rush is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2014, 02:07 AM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Northampton, UK
Posts: 915
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

What we do, if possible is turn them off.

If its a simple light doing a wall wash then fine. But if its like what you had where the coloured lights are the only real light source then we try our best to turn them off and turn on something else.

Notley Abbey is a beautiful venue but they have these nasty lights in the attic which illuminate the ceiling. They are the sort where they use multiple LEDs to create a particular colour and due to the refresh frequency of them it means that in each frame you get a different colour cast. Its strobing on a whole other level.

I have to get into the loft space, crawl to the control box and turn them off. Although, last time I was there they were still off. I did forget to turn them back on and it appears a year later there still off :)

If the colour is all over the place then don't try and white balance. IF the whites appear purple or red or whatever then just roll with it.
__________________
mintyslippers.com
Danny O'Neill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2014, 12:55 PM   #9
Tourist
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Macon
Posts: 1
Re: And we moan about the DJ's LED lights...

I encounter this problem all the time at receptions. I keep on hand some Lowel Pro Lights to light the dance floor, cake and toast area to balance out the color.
Torrey Rogers 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 08:09 AM.


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