View Full Version : Type of lighting


Matthew Lombardo
April 21st, 2005, 04:15 PM
I need some advise on lighting. I will be filming golf swings indoors using my canon xl1s at a shutter speed of around 1/2000 or 1/4000 on average. Behind my camera there are 2 large windows that provide daylight. I was looking at adding more light to make sure the quality of the picture does not go down. Also, when it's night I will loose the daylight. I am able and would like to mount 2 or 3 lights on the top of the wall or ceiling which are 12 feet. The subject would be in a five foot area roughly around 9 feet away from the base of the wall.

I was at B&H in New York City and asking, but the guy seemed unsure?

I would like to know what kind of light?
How many Watts?
And anything else I might have not taken into consideration?

Jack Smith
April 22nd, 2005, 12:04 AM
Golf swings are moving VERY fast you may find a bit of blur at those shutter speeds.Some can be well over 100mph which would be over an inch of movement at 1/2000
What are you trying to show?This would determine how to light the scene.
I'm guessing it is for the golfers info on his swing in which case you want to keep the lights low to isolate the club shaft and head.1 to fill from the front of the club( where the ball would go) and slightly backlighting the club, 1 from the camera direction( off axis) to illuminate the golfer.I'd consider blackout on the windows so you dont have to deal with changing daylight.
You will needs lots of light ....probably a minimum of 10,000w.Depending on the depth of focus you need.You definitely need to test it.

Jack Smith
April 22nd, 2005, 03:17 PM
not sure if what I was saying was clear.but also your frame rate would still be 1/30 so the head of the club could move 4 or 5 feet between frames,within the frame the club head could move an inch or so.Thought I'd mention this incase you were trying to analyze full speed golf swings.