shooting sunset tonight at DVinfo.net

joshuajr · August 20th, 2003, 02:19 PM

I'm shooting a concert tonight from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m with the sun supposedly setting at 7:34. I am shooting into the sun and the director wants a beautiful wide shot of the sunset and the concert stage. What is the best way to shoot this, considering that the light will be changing drastically every minute? I was reading through the manual and saw the Av feature (aperture priority) and thought that this might be a good idea. Anyone have experience with this? I'm a little worried that if I shoot it completely manually, I may screw up the shot by either overexposing or underexposing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Alex Knappenberger · August 20th, 2003, 02:32 PM

Shooting into the sun, with the band in front of it, will NOT turn out good, with any camera, of course unless you guys throw lots of light on the band, if you don't, either the sunset will be exposed properly, and the band will be a silhouette, or the band will be exposed properly, and the sunset will be blown out, so theres really not much you can do unless you have powerful lights, or want the silhouette look.

Other then that, shoot in manual, and just keep monitoring it, and open up the aperature more as the sun goes down...

Frank Granovski · August 20th, 2003, 02:48 PM

Manual mode, set correct exposure for performers on the stage.

Brian Wood · August 20th, 2003, 04:15 PM

or maybe just do the silowhit thing at times for effect and primarly shoot the band exposed properally...thats what i would do atleast

Rob Lohman · August 21st, 2003, 06:24 AM

I don't think you should compensate because you want to see
the sun fade away... Silhouttes can be quite nice. If possible
shoot a test the day earlier

Nathan Gifford · August 22nd, 2003, 08:50 AM

Or shoot the sunset and blue-screen the band in post.

Bob Safay · August 22nd, 2003, 09:55 AM

Try shooting at full manual. Take a meter reading at the stage and then one at the sunset. Shoot some footage with the camcorder set at the average setting. Also, bracket a few shots. I used to do this in my old 35mm days and it seemed to work. Play around with it outside BEFORE the concert to see how it will look. Bob

August 20th, 2003, 02:19 PM	#1
joshuajr New Boot Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6	shooting sunset tonight I'm shooting a concert tonight from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m with the sun supposedly setting at 7:34. I am shooting into the sun and the director wants a beautiful wide shot of the sunset and the concert stage. What is the best way to shoot this, considering that the light will be changing drastically every minute? I was reading through the manual and saw the Av feature (aperture priority) and thought that this might be a good idea. Anyone have experience with this? I'm a little worried that if I shoot it completely manually, I may screw up the shot by either overexposing or underexposing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

August 21st, 2003, 06:24 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I don't think you should compensate because you want to see the sun fade away... Silhouttes can be quite nice. If possible shoot a test the day earlier __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 22nd, 2003, 08:50 AM	#6
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Or shoot the sunset and blue-screen the band in post. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

August 20th, 2003, 02:32 PM	#2
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Shooting into the sun, with the band in front of it, will NOT turn out good, with any camera, of course unless you guys throw lots of light on the band, if you don't, either the sunset will be exposed properly, and the band will be a silhouette, or the band will be exposed properly, and the sunset will be blown out, so theres really not much you can do unless you have powerful lights, or want the silhouette look. Other then that, shoot in manual, and just keep monitoring it, and open up the aperature more as the sun goes down...

August 20th, 2003, 02:48 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Manual mode, set correct exposure for performers on the stage.

August 20th, 2003, 04:15 PM	#4
Brian Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: East Lansing, Michigan Posts: 77	or maybe just do the silowhit thing at times for effect and primarly shoot the band exposed properally...thats what i would do atleast

August 22nd, 2003, 09:55 AM	#7
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,559	Try shooting at full manual. Take a meter reading at the stage and then one at the sunset. Shoot some footage with the camcorder set at the average setting. Also, bracket a few shots. I used to do this in my old 35mm days and it seemed to work. Play around with it outside BEFORE the concert to see how it will look. Bob